Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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            Turkish Military Reportedly Seizes Control of Government

   by VOA News

   The Turkish military on Friday said that it had assumed power over
   Turkey, in what the prime minister has termed an illegal act.

   The military released a statement saying it had "fully seized control"
   of the government, according media reports.

   "Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain
   of command," Turkey's prime minister Binali Yildirim said Friday,
   telling private NTV television: "it is correct that there was an
   attempt,'' when asked if there was a coup.

   Yildirim promised the perpetrators "will pay the highest price."

   There are numerous reports that hostages have been taken in the Turkish
   capital, Ankara. CNN Turk says they are being held at a military
   headquarters there.

   The state-run Anadolu press agency says the chief of military staff is
   among those being held.

   "General Hulusi Akar has been taken hostage by a group in the military
   who attempted an uprising," the agency said, citing "credible sources."

   ''The main bridges in the Turkish city of Istanbul have been blocked by
   security forces, media reports say. Traffic has been stopped on the
   Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges, but no official reasons have
   been given.

   Footage on local television channels showed tanks deployed at
   Istanbul's main airport, and media reports say all flights from the
   airport have been canceled.

   There are also reports of military aircraft flying over the capital
   Ankara, with gunshots heard.

   The U.S. State Department urged Americans in Turkey to remain vigilant.

   ''

   A Turkish official who did not want to be named told media sources that
   soldiers had been deployed in other cities in Turkey, but did not
   specify which ones.

   ''


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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/article/3420312.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/article/3420312.html