Turkey's Erdoğan urges citizens to take to streets in protest of coup attempt

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a statement on the uprising staged by a group within the Turkish Armed Forces. In a televised statement to a private broadcaster, President Erdoğan, referring to today's development as an act of uprising by a minority within the Turkish Armed Forces, said: “This is an act encouraged by the parallel structure and used by those as the mastermind. I believe that they will receive the necessary punishment with the proper answer we will give as the nation to this act which targets the unity, solidarity and integrity of our country.”

Stressing that those who staged the uprising will pay a heavy price for targeting the nation by using the tank, artillery, plane and helicopter that have been supplied with the means of the nation, President Erdoğan continued as follows: “We will stand tall and take all the necessary steps on the issue as the President and government. In other words, we can never interpret the price of this in a different manner and never leave the ground to them. I also believe that we will soon end the occupation they have undertaken. I especially would like to state that we will resolutely deal with this issue. And no one will have the strength to test our determination on this issue.”

Calling on the nation, President Erdoğan said: “I call on our nation to take to the streets and airports of our provinces. Let's gather as the nation at the airport and let that minority group come with their tanks and artillery come and do to the people there whatever they will do. So far in my life I have never recognized any power over the power of the people and it is already out of the question for us to know any such thing henceforth, either.”

A reporter asked the President whether the uprising was attempted in line with the chain of command within the Turkish Armed Forces. The President said: “There is absolutely no chain of command here. Right now the chain of command has been put on hold, violated. These steps have been taken by subordinates against their superiors. I am the President and Commander-in-Chief. The judiciary has given the necessary answer to those who have taken these steps. Rest assured the necessary action will be taken.”

Regarding the rumors that Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar is being held hostage, President Erdoğan said: “As you know, during such times, the air gets blurry, which is also the case right now. And I especially would like to state that those who make the air blurry will pay a heavy price.”

Underscoring that those who participated in this uprising will pay a heavy price, President Erdoğan said: “I call on our nation to go to the squares and let us give them the best answer together. I, as Commander-in-Chief, am also coming to the square.”

“Will the coup-plotters be successful? The people are asking this, there are concerns,” a reporter said. The President underscored: “I do not believe this coup attempt will be successful. No coup-plotter in history has ever succeeded. They have perished eventually.”

He said the act was encourage by the "parallel structure" - his shorthand for followers of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric who he has attempting to foment an uprising among his followers in the judiciary and the military.