Somalia condemns coup attempt in Turkey

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday condemned an attempted coup in Turkey on Friday, after a group of military officers tried to disrupt the stability and the democracy of the country.

The death toll from the coup by an army faction backed by tanks and fighter jets against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reached 161 and 1,440 were wounded.

In a statement, President Hassan said it's intolerable to reverse the democratic path that the people of Turkey enjoyed in the recent times of their history.

"This was unfortunate and we are very glad to hear that the forces who tried to turn Turkey into a violence ground have been defeated," he said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

Turkey which has invested heavily in Somalia's reconstruction efforts opened the world's biggest embassy in Mogadishu in June.

Several Turkish companies have been involved in infrastructure sector in the Horn of Africa nation.

President Mohamud said Somalia fully supports the government of President Erdogan, saying constitutional order and the democratic institutions should be respected in order to uphold the momentum of the successes the country has registered.

"I wish the people and the leaders of Turkey to continue enjoying unity, peace, stability and prosperity, which have been achieved through exercising democratic values and respecting the constitution," he said.

President Erdogan has said in Istanbul that those who were involved in coup attempt will be punished. A mission to fully cleanse the Turkish military of traitorous elements has begun.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said the situation in Ankara was largely under control and 120 people were arrested.

About 15 minutes before his remark, the parliament building was hit by bombs with people injured, according to reports. A no-fly zone over Ankara has been declared. Endit