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Turkish president says he's in control, coup faltering

Sat, July 16, 2016   /   03:40 pm
  • + See SlideShow A man poses with the flag of Turkey in front of a damaged car, crashed by a military tank as people gather in Kizilay Square to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici
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    A man poses with the flag of Turkey in front of a damaged car, crashed by a military tank as people gather in Kizilay Square to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

  • + See SlideShow Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ride a police personnel carrier as people gather in Kizilay Square to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici
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    Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ride a police personnel carrier as people gather in Kizilay Square to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

  • + See SlideShow A man, protesting against the coup, stands in Istanbul, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. Officials said the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the country. AP Photo/Omer Kuscu
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    A man, protesting against the coup, stands in Istanbul, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. Officials said the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the country. AP Photo/Omer Kuscu

  • + See SlideShow People gather around a damaged car which was crashed by a tank in Kizilay Square to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici
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    People gather around a damaged car which was crashed by a tank in Kizilay Square to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

  • + See SlideShow People watch a damaged car which was crashed by a tank in Kizilay Square as they gather to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici
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    People watch a damaged car which was crashed by a tank in Kizilay Square as they gather to protest against a military coup in Ankara, Turkey, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

  • + See SlideShow Turkish people, protesting against the coup, walk in Istanbul, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. Officials said the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the country. AP Photo/Omer Kuscu
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    Turkish people, protesting against the coup, walk in Istanbul, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. Officials said the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the country. AP Photo/Omer Kuscu

  • + See SlideShow People protesting against the coup, try to protect themselves during a firefight between police and army forces in Istanbul, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. Officials said the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the country. AP Photo/Omer Kuscu
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    People protesting against the coup, try to protect themselves during a firefight between police and army forces in Istanbul, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. Officials said the coup appeared to have failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the...

  • + See SlideShow A Turkish police officer, right, confronts a Turkish army officer, left, that participated in the coup, after he was apprehended in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu
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    A Turkish police officer, right, confronts a Turkish army officer, left, that participated in the coup, after he was apprehended in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu

  • + See SlideShow People attend to a man that was protesting against the coup, laying wounded when Turkish forces soldiers opened fire to disperse the crowd, in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence, according to state-run media. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu
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    People attend to a man that was protesting against the coup, laying wounded when Turkish forces soldiers opened fire to disperse the crowd, in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence, according to state-run media. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu

  • + See SlideShow Turkish soldiers, arrested by civilians, are handed to police officers, in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence, according to state-run media. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu
    /

    Turkish soldiers, arrested by civilians, are handed to police officers, in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence, according to state-run media. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu

  • + See SlideShow A man that was protesting against the coup, wounded when Turkish forces soldiers opened fire to disperse the crowd is carried away in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence , according to state-run media. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu
    /

    A man that was protesting against the coup, wounded when Turkish forces soldiers opened fire to disperse the crowd is carried away in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence , according to state-run media. AP Photo/Selcuk Samiloglu

  • + See SlideShow A car burns during firefight between Turkish army and Turkish police, in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence, according to state-run media. AP Photo/Cavit Ozgul
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    A car burns during firefight between Turkish army and Turkish police, in Istanbul's Taksim square, early Saturday, July 16, 2016. Members of Turkey's armed forces said they had taken control of the country, but Turkish officials said the coup attempt had been repelled early Saturday morning in a night of violence, according to state-run media. AP Photo/Cavit Ozgul

  • + See SlideShow People attack and try to stop a Turkish police armored vehicle, carrying Turkish soldiers that participated in the coup and surrendered, backdropped by Istanbul's iconic Bosporus Bridge, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government is in charge after a coup attempt brought a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital of Ankara. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
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    People attack and try to stop a Turkish police armored vehicle, carrying Turkish soldiers that participated in the coup and surrendered, backdropped by Istanbul's iconic Bosporus Bridge, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government is in charge after a coup attempt brought a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital of Ankara. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

  • + See SlideShow Turkish people wave the national flags on a car in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on national television from Istanbul, told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the Turkish capital of Ankara. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
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    Turkish people wave the national flags on a car in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on national television from Istanbul, told the nation Saturday that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the Turkish capital of Ankara. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

  • + See SlideShow Turkish people celebrate as police officers, loyal to the government secure the area in Istanbul, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was in control of the country early Saturday as government forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
    /

    Turkish people celebrate as police officers, loyal to the government secure the area in Istanbul, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was in control of the country early Saturday as government forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

  • + See SlideShow People, loyal to the government, some holding Turkish flags celebrate in Istanbul, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was in control of the country early Saturday as government forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
    /

    People, loyal to the government, some holding Turkish flags celebrate in Istanbul, Saturday, July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was in control of the country early Saturday as government forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead. AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

  • + See SlideShow People with the Turkish national flags gather outside the military headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was in control of the country early Saturday as government forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici
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    People with the Turkish national flags gather outside the military headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday July 16, 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was in control of the country early Saturday as government forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead. AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

  • + See SlideShow In this image taken from video provided by Anadolu Agency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media Saturday, July 16, 2016 in Istanbul. Erdogan said that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead and at least 150 people wounded. Anadolu Agency via AP
    /

    In this image taken from video provided by Anadolu Agency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media Saturday, July 16, 2016 in Istanbul. Erdogan said that his government was working to crush a coup attempt after a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead and at least 150 people wounded. Anadolu Agency via AP

Turkey's president declared he is in control of the country early Saturday as loyal military and police forces fought to squash a coup attempt during a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead.

More than 1,500 military personnel were arrested across the country, said a senior official who was not authorized to speak to the media. The state-run Anadolu news agency said at least 90 people were killed in clashes and more than 1,100 were wounded. Colonels and generals implicated in the rebellion were fired and loyal troops rescued the military chief who had been taken hostage at an air base on the outskirts of Ankara.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said coup supporters "will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey," according to a transcript of his remarks provided by his office. "Those who stain the military's reputation must leave. The process has started today, and it will continue just as we fight other terrorist groups."

Military chief of staff Gen. Hulusi Akar is taking over the command of the operation against the coup plotters, CNN-Turk said.

Fighting continued into the early morning, with the sounds of huge blasts echoing across Istanbul and the capital, Ankara, including at least one bomb that hit the parliament complex. Television footage showed images of broken glass and other debris strewn across a lobby leading to the assembly hall.

Government officials, who blamed the unrest on a U.S.-based Islamist cleric, said the coup failed as Turks took to the streets overnight to confront troops attempting to take over the country.

The chaos capped a period of political turmoil in Turkey which critics blamed on Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian rule, which has included a government shake-up, a crackdown on dissidents and opposition media and renewed conflict in the mainly Kurdish areas of the southeast.

 

AP/ Suzan Fraser and Dominique Soguel

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