Erdogan calls people onto streets on CNN Turk via mobile phone, says ‘will overcome’ coup
Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared live on CNN Turk via FaceTime on the presenter’s cell phone, saying the ongoing military coup in the country “will be overcome” and calling on people to protest.
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Erdogan has urged the nation to come out to the "squares and airports," saying that no force can stand the power of the people.
BREAKING Turkish President Erdoğan blames #Gulenist network & calls on public to go to public squares and airports. pic.twitter.com/vmQlYLyv35
— CNN Türk ENG (@CNNTURK_ENG) July 15, 2016
Growing groups chanting against military in Istanbul's taksim square. pic.twitter.com/VttTlRpNt7
— William Armstrong (@WJ_Armstrong) July 15, 2016
Reassuring the audience that he still is the president of Turkey and its commander-in-chief, Erdogan has described the situation as an attempted uprising by a minority in the army.
Milletimizi demokrasimize ve milli iradeye sahip çıkmak üzere meydanlara, havalimanlarına davet ediyorum.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RT_Erdogan) July 15, 2016
According to Reuters, the coup attempt occurred when Erdogan was on vacation outside the country. In his TV appearance, the president said he was returning to the Turkish capital of Ankara.
READ MORE: Helicopter seen shooting state broadcaster’s HQ in Ankara, explosions heard
The authorities would take all "necessary steps," he said, adding that he didn't believe the coup backers would succeed.
Live stream out of Turkey just showed civilians swarming a tank. Context/when it happened was unclear. pic.twitter.com/jwNSB1e4Q9
— Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) July 15, 2016
There have been unconfirmed reports that Erdogan’s plane has been diverted inside the country, but airports in the Turkish capital had already been closed by the military with all flights diverted.
NBC News reported that Erdogan's aircraft has been denied permission to land in Istanbul, citing a source in the US military.
Senior US military source tells NBC News that Erdogan, refused landing rights in Istanbul, is reported to be seeking asylum in Germany.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 15, 2016
The latest report claims that the Turkish president is seeking asylum in Germany.
While the whereabouts of the Turkish president are still unknown, there have been unconfirmed reports that his plane has been flying across Europe. It has been claimed that Erdogan has been declined landing rights in Germany and Western media sources say he might be now heading for London.
NBC reporting that President Erdogan's asylum request has been rejected by the Germans, he is thought to be flying to London
— Politico Daily (@Politico_Daily) July 15, 2016
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has reportedly refused to call the ongoing events a coup, saying that "for the moment... this is an uprising," Hurriyet Daily News reported. Speaking to broadcaster NTV, the PM said that those behind it will be punished "the hardest way."
Speaking live on local television, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Erdogan's AK Party was still in charge of the government, Reuters reported.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has claimed that the people behind the coup are members of the movement that is loyal to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, according to Reuters. President Erdogan and his supporters within the government have described the military behind the coup as a small faction.
They would be defeated, the officials said, with one of the senior officials saying it might take some 24 hours to restore order within the country, Reuters reported.
The exiled preacher, who has resided in the US since 1999, was a firm ally of Erdogan as the then-president-to-be rose through Turkish politics. The two then fell out, however, with Gulen now facing a life sentence in Turkey for orchestrating an earlier coup.
