ISTANBUL – Turkey’s military announced on Friday night that army had taken over “the entire management of the country to restore rule of law” as the country’s prime minister admitted an “attempt” by a group within the military while falling short of calling the attempt a military coup.
The Dogan news agency published a statement from the military saying that it had” fully seized control” over the country. The statement said the coup was “to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for the law and order to be reinstated.”
A Turkish security officer stands on guard on the side of the road on July 15, 2016 in Istanbul, during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on July 15 denounced what he said was an “illegal attempt” by elements in the military after bridges were partially shut down in Istanbul and jets flew low over Ankara. “We are working on the possibility of an attempt. We will not allow this attempt,” he told NTV television by telephone, without expanding on the nature of the move but saying it was by a group in the Turkish military. / AFP / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
A Turkish soldier stands on guard on the side of the road on July 15, 2016 in Istanbul, during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge.
The Turkish military on July 15 said that it had assumed power over Turkey, in what the prime minister has termed an illegal act. “The power in the country has been seized in its entirety,” said a military statement read on NTV television, without giving further details. The military’s website was not immediately accessible.
/ AFP / Yasin AKGUL (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)
Turkish soldiers block Istanbul’s iconic Bosporus Bridge on Friday, July 15, 2016, lit in the colours of the French flag in solidarity with the victims of Thursday’s attack in Nice, France. A group within Turkey’s military has engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup, the prime minister said, with military jets flying over the capital and reports of vehicles blocking two major bridges in Istanbul. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told NTV television: “it is correct that there was an attempt,” when asked if there was a coup. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – JULY 15: Turkish soldiers block Istanbul’s Bosphorus Brigde on July 15, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul’s bridges across the Bosphorus, the strait separating the European and Asian sides of the city, have been closed to traffic. Reports have suggested that a group within Turkey’s military have attempted to overthrow the government. Security forces have been called in as Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim denounced an “illegal action” by a military “group”, with bridges closed in Istanbul and aircraft flying low over the capital of Ankara. (Photo by Gokhan Tan/Getty Images)
ANKARA, TURKEY – JULY 15 : ‘There is an uprising attempt from within the army,’ says Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. ‘Those who are doing this will be punished in the hardest way.’ (Photo by Ahmet zgi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Turkish security officers detain police officers on the side of the road on July 15, 2016 in Istanbul, during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on July 15 denounced what he said was an “illegal attempt” by elements in the military after bridges were partially shut down in Istanbul and jets flew low over Ankara. “We are working on the possibility of an attempt. We will not allow this attempt,” he told NTV television by telephone, without expanding on the nature of the move but saying it was by a group in the Turkish military.
/ AFP / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
The military statement went on to say that “all international agreements and commitments will remain. We pledge that good relations with all world countries will continue.”
