Turkey coup: Military tries to take power from Erdogan

There was chaos in the streets of Turkey's major cities early Saturday as thousands of pro-government demonstrators protested an ongoing coup involving units of the country's military, CNN reported.

The military claimed to have seized power from the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the government's National Intelligence Unit said the coup had failed.

Video from the country continues to show confrontations between military forces and street demonstrators. Rinuh Yilmaz, press officer to the National Intelligence Organization, told CNN Turk that "the coup is defeated."

There was no independent confirmation.

Erdogan urged citizens to take to the squares of the capital of Ankara and Istanbul. Many protesters descended on the areas where military vehicles were positioned, including two bridges leading from the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side. Some soldiers were greeted by people who jumped on their tanks, but others got hugs from apparent supporters.

A Turkish fighter jet shot down a helicopter that had been commandeered by "coup plotters," a Turkish presidential source told CNN. There were reports of gunfire, according to Turkish broadcaster IHA and the US Embassy in Ankara.

The Turkish military claim of a takeover was read by an anchor on state broadcaster TRT. She said the military imposed martial law.

The statement was made on behalf of the "Peace in the Nation" council, the announcer said. "The political administration that has lost all legitimacy has been forced to withdraw," the anchor said.

When the coup began, soldiers blocked two bridges in Istanbul between the European and Asian sides.

"Go to the streets and give them their answer," Erdogan told residents during a Facetime interview on CNN Turk.

"I’m coming to a square in Ankara. ... This was done from outside the chain of command," Erdogan said of the military. "Those who’re responsible, we’ll give them the necessary punishment," he said. It was not clear from where he was speaking.

He placed blame for the coup on military units he said were influenced by scholar and religious leader Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the United States.

"We categorically deny such claims," said the Alliance for Shared Values, which is connected to the cleric.

In a statement sent to media, the group said: "We condemn any military intervention in domestic politics of Turkey."

Earlier, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed the coup attempt would not succeed.

He told state news agency Anadolu the coup is "an attempt against democracy and the will of the people. Those who attempted this will pay the heaviest price."

The military has issued statements, which have been published in some Turkish media, and not others, and reported by the Reuters news agency, claiming it has "fully seized control of Turkey" to maintain democratic order, that rule of law must remain a priority and international relations must remain. The statements have not been distributed through regular web channels.

A CNN producer said that as the protests began there were 200 to 300 residents in Taksim Square in Istanbul. Many of them were waving Turkish flags. About 100 police officers were shooting off tear gas, trying to disperse the crowd.

The US Embassy said in a statement: "We urge US citizens to contact family and friends to let them know you’re safe. We’ve seen reports that social media is blocked ... We encourage US citizens to shelter in place and do not go the US Embassy or Consulates at this time."

"The United States views with gravest concern the events unfolding in Turkey," a statement by Secretary of State John Kerry said. The statement said the United States is monitoring "a very fluid situation."

Kerry spoke with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and "emphasized the United States' absolute for Turkey's democratically-elected, civilian government and democratic institutions."

Courtesy: cnn.com