Military coup in Turkey: What we know now
An attempted military coup in Turkey to overthrow its president and government appears to have failed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed a large crowd in Istanbul on Saturday and condemned the action and vowed retribution, saying: “This government brought to power by the people is in charge. They won’t succeed as long as we stand against them by risking everything.”
Here's what we know so far:
What happened?
The coup attempt began late Friday night. It escalated quickly as military units closed key routes into Ankara and Istanbul and seized control of state-run television stations. There were clashes between crowds of government supporters and a military group calling itself the Peace at Home Council. The coup plotters issued a statement through the military saying they wanted to take control “to reinstall constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, (and) to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country."
Was it peaceful?
No. About 265 people have been killed in the clashes, according to the Andalou Agency, a government-affiliated news service. Turkey has detained more than 2,000 military personnel and more are continuing to surrender. Turkey’s Police Chief Celalettin Lekesiz said 16 coup plotters were killed in clashes at a police command. Colonels and generals implicated in the rebellion were fired. Government troops rescued a military chief who had been taken hostage at an airbase.
There appear to be some parts of the county where fighting is still going on.
Why did it happen?
Political turmoil has engulfed Turkey for months. There has been a government shake-up, a crackdown on dissidents and opposition media and renewed conflict in the mainly Kurdish areas of the southeast. Critics blame Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian rule for eroding democracy and secular laws. Meanwhile, Turkey, a NATO member and a key partner in U.S.-led efforts to defeat the Islamic State group, has seen a wave of terrorist attacks that have crippled one if its biggest industries: tourism.
Reports: At least 90 dead in attempted Turkish coup
Was there someone else behind it?
It's not clear. A lawyer for the Turkish government said in a statement seen by the Associated Press that “there are indications of direct involvement” in the coup attempt of a cleric who is living in exile in Pennsylvania. Robert Amsterdam said in a statement Friday evening that he and his firm “have attempted repeatedly to warn the U.S. government of the threat posed” by Fethullah Gulen and his movement.
“There are signs that Gulen is working closely with certain members of military leadership against the elected civilian government,” the statement added. Gulen promotes a philosophy that blends a mystical form of Islam with staunch advocacy of democracy, education, science and interfaith dialogue. Y. Alp Aslandogan of the New York-based Alliance for Shared Values, a group that promotes Gulen’s ideas, denied the charges.
On Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. would entertain an extradition request for Gulen but said Turkey’s government would have to present evidence of Gulen’s wrongdoing that withstands scrutiny.
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What is the international reaction?
On Friday, Kerry described the situation in Turkey as "very fluid" and said he spoke to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to express the United States' "absolute support" for Turkey's democratically elected civilian government and institutions. The State Department urged Americans in Turkey to stay indoors.
European Council President Donald Tusk called for a swift return to Turkey’s constitutional order. “Turkey is a key partner for the European Union. The EU fully supports the democratically elected government, the institutions of the country and the rule of law.”
More fallout
Turkey’s state-run news agency said authorities have detained 10 members of Turkey’s highest administrative court as the government appeared to press ahead with a purge of judiciary officials with alleged links to Gulen, AP reported. The Anadolu Agency said Saturday that arrest warrants were issued for 48 administrative court members and 140 members of Turkey’s appeals court. The agency said earlier that a body overseeing judges and prosecutors in Turkey has dismissed 2,745 judges.
The Turkish government closed the airspace around Incirlik airbase and commercial power was cut. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said the U.S. was working with Turkey to resume air operations at the base so the anti-ISIL campaign would not be affected. He said the base was operating on internal power sources.