Erdogan stressed that the coup attempt was carried out by a small minority within the military seeking to divide the country. He called the attempt "a blessing from Allah, because it will allow us to purge the military" of mutineers.
— IslamSolusiKehidupan (@arwidodo) July 16, 2016
He said those responsible will pay the highest price and answer this treason.
Erdogan promised he would stay "with his people" and said the coup will be fully suppressed. He stressed that the prime minister has given orders to "eradicate" any shooting from the air. Fighters jets are en route to destroy the helicopter attacking the parliament building.
"I was in Marmaris before I came here,"he said. "They bombed the places I was at immediately after I left."
The president said millions of Turkish citizens have expressed support for the elected government.
"Those who drive around in tanks will have to go back to where they came from," he said. "The most important thing right now is that millions of Turkish citizens are on the streets at 4:30 am."
"I never believed in a power higher than the power of the people," he said.
Erdogan also reiterated allegations that this was the work of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. The Alliance for Shared Values (AfSV), a non-profit group linked to the cleric, issued a statement denouncing the coup.
"We condemn any military intervention in [the] domestic politics of Turkey," the statements reads.
Separately, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim called on citizens to remain in the streets until coup is completely suppressed. He claimed over 120 individuals have been arrested so far.
