WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In a brief statement on Friday, US President Barack Obama called on all parties to avoid violence and reiterated his support for the Erdogan government.
“The United States should take a stronger stand in support of the Turkish government because what we see is an attempt to overthrow the elected government,” a participant in the protest on Friday night told Sputnik.
Earlier on Friday, Turkey was rocked by an attempted military takeover in the capital Ankara and the country’s largest city Istanbul. However, thousands of people poured out on the streets reportedly protesting the attempted coup.
The protestors, who were mostly Turkish nationals, held Turkish flags and shouted “Turkey! Turkey!”
Police presence outside the White House was light, with about a half dozen officers on the perimeter of a peaceful demonstration.
