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• 1st LD: Obama urges all parties in Turkey to show restraint, avoid violence  • 2nd LD: Iran expresses concerns over Turkey's coup attempt  • Urgent: UN chief calls for calm following coup attempt in Turkey  • U.S. tells citizens in Turkey not to go to U.S. Embassy amid "uprising"  • 1st LD: Iran expresses concerns over Turkey's coup attempt  • Urgent: Obama urges all parties in Turkey to show restraint, avoid violence  • Urgent: World Heritage Committee suspends session in Istanbul amid reports of coup attempt  • 2nd LD: Turkish president safe in "unsuccessful" coup attempt: website statement  • UN agencies scale up aid in Nigeria  • 7th LD: Turkish military statement says "seized power;" president urges people to protect democracy  
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1st LD Writethru: UN chief calls for calm following coup attempt in Turkey

Xinhua, July 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for calm in Turkey following a coup attempt in the country, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said.

"We are following closely" the current situation and its latest development in Turkey after sections of the Turkish army have officially declared a coup and Martial Law, Haq told Xinhua by phone.

At this stage, the secretary-general appealed for calm in Turkey and "hopefully a written statement will be issued in next hours," he said.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told local media on Friday night that there has been a mutiny attempt in Turkey.

"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."

There were reports of the Turkish chief of military staff being "held hostage" and of a military statement claiming to have taken power of the country.

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

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