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4th LD: Turkish military statement says "seized power;" president says coup attempt unsuccessful

Xinhua, July 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

A military statement on Turkish media said Friday the armed forces have fully seized power in the country but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the coup attempt has failed, urging people to protect democracy.

According to the military statement, reported on NTV, the military move was made to restore the constitutional order, democracy, human rights, freedom and rule of law.

The statement said that all our international agreements and commitments is continue to be kept valid.

"We hope that our good relations with all countries of the world will be continued," the statement said.

President Erdogan's office website said he is safe and and that a coup attempt by a small group of soldiers was "unsuccessful."

In his appearance on CNNTurk via a reporter's mobile phone, Erdogan urged people to take to the streets to protect "democracy."

Earlier Friday, Turkish Prime minister Binali Yildirim told local media that there has been a coup attempt.

"This is a mutiny attempt; we will not let it win," Anadolu Agency quoted Yildirim as saying. "Those who are doing this will be punished in the hardest way."

Meanwhile, NTV reported that Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar was taken hostage by a group of soldiers.

Flights from Istanbul Ataturk airport were also reported to have been canceled.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said the coup attempt is unlawful and Ankara and Istanbul public prosecutors have launched an investigation, Milliyet News reported.

"The coup of some armed forces was made without command," Bozdag said. "It is time we show our attitude to democracy."

Dogan News Agency reported earlier that Ankara Police Department urged all staff on duty as extensive security measures were taken around the Turkish General Staff in the capital.

There were reports of jets flying low over Ankara late Friday night.

In Istanbul, the gendarmerie closed the two bridges that connect the city's Asian and European parts over the Bosphorus Strait.

Witnesses also reported seeing tanks on the bridges. Endit