1st LD: Turkish president says coup attempt "unsuccessful," urges people to protect "democracy"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is safe and a coup attempt by a small group of soldiers was "unsuccessful," said a statement posted early Saturday on the website of the president's office.

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

"This is an act encouraged by the parallel structure." he said. "I believe that this act will have the necessary punishment that will be given by our nation."

The president was referring to the movement led by U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, who has been accused of running a parallel state and trying to topple the Turkish government.

"I will be at the squares as well either in Istanbul or Ankara," Erdogan said in remarks delivered later on NTV.

There were reports of jets flying low over Ankara and Istanbul late Friday night. In Istanbul, the gendarmerie closed the two bridges that connect the city's Asian and European parts over the Bosphorus Strait, with tanks reported on the bridges.

Tanks were sent to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, where all flights were canceled.

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