Turkey military coup: India calls upon all sides to avoid bloodshed

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also asked Indian nationals in the country to avoid public places and remain indoors

India today called upon all the sides in Turkey, which has witnessed violence after an attempted military coup, to support democracy and mandate of the ballot and avoid bloodshed even as it advised its nationals to stay indoors.

"We have been closely following the developments in #Turkey India calls upon all sides 2 support democracy & mandate of the ballot, & avoid bloodshed," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

India also asked its nationals in the country to avoid public places and remain indoors until the situation becomes clearer in the backdrop of the attempted military coup.

"Indian nationals in Turkey : Pl avoid public places and stay indoors. Helpline : Ankara: +905303142203 Istanbul: +905305671095," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Forty-two people, 17 of them police and others civilian, in clashes in the Turkish capital of Ankara as groups inside the army attempted to bring down the government.