Turkish Coup: Over 300 Soldiers Arrested As PM Binali Yildirim Confirms Situation Now Under Control

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Uncategorized, World News Sunday, July 17th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Almost 300 soldiers including senior officers have been arrested in connection with the Saturday Turkish coup attempt, just as the Prime Minister (PM) Binali Yildirim confirmed that the plot had been foiled and situation is under control.

The PM alleged the coup attempt in which 16 civilains were killed and 1440 injured was a “black stain on Turkish democracy”. This is despite that those behind the coup still unknown.
While the commotion ensued, explosions and gunfire were heard in cities like Ankara, Istanbul among others, overnight and thousands of Turks heeded President Erdogan’s call to rise up against the coup-plotters.

However Turkish authorities have confirmed that over 100 suspected coup-plotters had been killed.

In the same vein, some 2,745 Turkish judges including those of the apex Court have been dismissed in the wake of the coup, according to the state media.
As authorities still decline to make any link on the failed coup, President Erdogan said: “What is being perpetrated is a treason and a rebellion” vowing that the plotters would pay a heavy price.

Meanwhile, PM Yildirim said the situation was now “completely under control” and the government’s commanders were back in charge.

Earlier, the acting Military Chief of staff Umit Dundar said officers from the Air force, the Military police and armoured units had extensively been involved in the coup attempt.
But despite the rescue of Chief of Staff, several Military Commanders were still being held hostage.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in his twitter handle that eight soldiers who flew to Greece in a helicopter to seek asylum would be extradited as their country is yet formally confirmed the move and their mission.

On his own, the US Government spokesman said the Turkish government has closed its airspace to military aircraft, and as a result, operations from Incirlik Air Base against the so-called Islamic State (IS) had been halted.

Earlier, media report had it that some 200 unarmed soldiers left Turkey’s military headquarters in Ankara and surrendered to police.