Baku, Azerbaijan, July 16
Trend:
Abdullah Gul, Turkey’s former president, has called to the Turkish television station NTV on Friday, and speaking by video chat, he urged the military to stand down, according to Al Jazeera English.
“To avoid causing more distress and sadness to the citizens of this country, I am telling those who have made this attempt to give up immediately,” he said.
A chaotic night began late Friday with reports of soldiers trying to wrestle control of bridges and key functions in major cities, and turned into a nightmare when army helicopters began airstrikes and shelled key locations in the capital, Ankara, Anadolu reported
Bombs struck near the Turkish Grand Assembly, witnesses said.
Airborne shelling at several locations including the ruling AK Party headquarters, the presidential complex and the General Staff have been reported.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim later announced a no-fly zone has been enforced above Ankara, adding that army commanders, including Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar, are on duty and working to stop the illegal military action.