Military group attempts coup in Turkey: PM

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said that Turkey is facing an uprising attempt from inside the army, with the state-run Anadolu Agency reporting that Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar is being kept as a hostage with a group, Hurriyet Daily News online reported on Friday.

An army group in Turkey has said it has taken control of the country, BBC reported.

A statement from the military group read out on NTV television said: "The power in the country has been seized in its entirety." Who represents the group remains uncertain.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to make a statement, broadcaster CNNTürk said.

A CNNTürk reporter said a helicopter shoot on the General Staff headquarters in Ankara.

CNNTürk reported that two busses full of soldiers entered the headquarters of the state-run TRT in Ankara. Channels started to broadcast wheather forecast only.

"This cannot be called a coup for the moment. This is an uprising," PM Yildirim said. The security forces are in action against this he said, in phone call to broadcaster NTV.

We will punish it the hardest way," Hurriyet Daily News online quoted him as saying.

"No clashes have been reported yet but it is normal to take all measures," Yildirim said.

"Our security forces will use force against force," he said.

The head of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) said on broadcaster CNNTürk on the phone that a group of soldiers were trying to take them out of the building.

He called on citizen to hit the streets against the attempt, similar to pro-governnment papers on their websites.

Ambulances await in front of the General in Staff headquarters in Ankara, as entrance to the building is denied.

Atatürk Airport has been closed to traffic, with tanks waiting in front of it.

A number of armoured vehicles have cut a main road in Istanbul, where the Istanbul police headquarters is located.

Gendarmerie, a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations, has blocked entrances to bridges in Istanbul from the Anatolian to the European side of the city on July 15.

Reports said an explosion was heard in Ankara's Gölbasi district.

Dogan News Agency reported that police in Ankara called personnel to office.

--IANS

lok/