Erdogan condemns the “treason” and accused his opponents – BBC

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan interrupted holiday trip over the Aegean Sea and returned to Istanbul. During a speech at the airport he said that the attempt of military coup, which took place on Friday evening is an act of treason and coup leaders bear a huge penalty. He assured that the country will not give up in the hands of “the occupiers.”

The president said he was not going anywhere and choose “will remain with his people.” He added that “millions took to the streets” to protest against puczowi.

– Turkey has a democratically elected government and president. We have a responsibility and we will do our duty to the end. We will not give this country the invaders – Erdogan said at a press conference at the airport in Istanbul. According to the president puczyści were “minority” in the ranks of the army.

Hotel, where he stayed Erdogan bombed

Erdogan also said that the hotel in the coastal town of Marmaris in the south western Turkey, where he was on vacation, after his departure was bombed.

are being arrested

Erdogan announced that further arrests last military. Among them they are to be found high-ranking officers. In his speech, also he said that it is still not known the whereabouts of the head of the military command. Previously, there were some reports that he could be held hostage to the putschists.

Recep Erdogan also said that after these events, Turkey is no longer the same.

Puczyści against the “unity of the country”

The Turkish President said that the coup attempt took minority officers in the army, who “could not stand the unity of the country.” He added that the situation will be an opportunity to “clean up the army.”

He noted that the authors of the coup “took command” of the Muslim spiritual leader part of the Turks, priest Fetullaha Gulen, who lives in the United States. According to Erdogan, he has to provide the so-called Gulen Movement is an armed terrorist organization.

The Turkish President said that the seat of government remains Ankara, and on the streets there were “millions” of ordinary people who protested against the attempted coup and seize power in the country. Erdogan said that “is in the country with its citizens.”

The attempt of military coup

On Friday evening there was a military coup attempt. On the streets there were military vehicles, and fighter jets flew over the cities. In the country into chaos.

In Istanbul, military police partially closed two bridges over the Bosphorus, connecting Europe with Asia. Closed Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and stopped all flights.

At night in the capital of Turkey, Ankara was heard strong explosions and tanks stood around parliament. Above the town of F-16 fighter shot down a military helicopter. According to unconfirmed information they had to be in the military responsible for trying to make a coup.