begin quote from:
AIR BASE CLOSED
Turkish government says situation under control; air base used by U.S. closed
Story highlights
- U.S. uses Incirlik Air Base in air operations against ISIS
- Judges detained, soldiers surrender after coup attempt
(CNN)[Breaking news update, posted at 1:52 p.m. ET]
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is demanding that the United States
arrest or extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric and former ally he blames
for the failed coup attempt the night before. Gulen, who lives in exile
in Pennsylvania, has denied any connection to the coup attempt and said
he condemned it. "This country suffered a lot in the hands of the Gulen
movement," Erdogan told supporters.
[Previous story, posted at 12:33 a.m. ET]
Turkey's
government said Saturday it was firmly in control after a coup attempt
the night before sparked violence and chaos, leaving 161 people dead.
Friday's
uprising by some members of the military is the latest worrying example
of deteriorating stability in a country that a few years ago was being
promoted to the wider Muslim world as a model of democratic governance
and economic prosperity.
Some 14
years after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's political party swept to
power in elections, Turkey once again teeters on the brink.
Clothes and weapons beloging to soldiers involved in the coup attempt lie on the ground abandoned on Bosphorus Bridge.
The
turmoil exposes deep discontent within the military ranks and a defiant
Erdogan has vowed to purge those traitorous elements. But less than 24
hours after the attempted putsch, questions remained about who
masterminded it and why they decided to act now.
Thousands of military officers have been arrested, including the commander of Turkey's 2nd army, Gen. Adem Huduti.
Key air base closed
Turkish
military authorities, meanwhile, closed the airspace around Turkey's
Incirlik Air Base -- the site Turkey allows the United States to use for
operations related to its air campaign against ISIS in Syria and Iraq,
the Pentagon said in a statement.
"U.S.
officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as
soon as possible," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said. "In the meantime,
U.S. Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL
campaign to minimize any effects on the campaign."
American
airstrike missions from that location have been halted. Turkish
officials told the United States the airspace has been closed until they
can make sure all Turkish air force elements are in the hands of
pro-government forces, a U.S. defense official told CNN on Saturday.
Still, a small number of U.S. planes on missions before the airspace closed were allowed to land at Incirlik, the official said.
Earlier,
the U.S. consulate in Adana reported that power to the base had been
cut and authorities were preventing movement on and off the site. The
consulate warned U.S. citizens to avoid the area.
Cook
said U.S. facilities were operating on internal power sources and the
shut down of commercial power has not affected base operations. He said
defense department personnel in the area were "safe and secure."
The
base is home to the Turkish Air Force and the U.S. Air Force's 39th Air
Base Wing, which includes about 1,500 American personnel, according to
the base website.
Uprising 'under control'
Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus Bridge on Saturday.
Hours
earlier, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the situation in Turkey
was under control, with military commanders back to work.
"Our
nation in this incident has shown a great resilience," Yildirim said.
"Those who have done this uprising should understand this reality that
no one can play games with the stability of this country and the love of
freedom and democracy."
Chaos
erupted Friday night when military tanks rolled onto the streets of
Ankara and Istanbul and soldiers blocked the famous Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkey's attempted coup: By the numbers
• At least 161 people killed
• 2,839 military officers were detained
• At least 1,140 people wounded
• 1 airfield still under military faction's control
• At least 200 soldiers turned themselves in to police in Ankara
• 11 years: Erdogan's reign as Prime Minister
• 2014: Year that Erdogan ran for President -- and won
• 2,839 military officers were detained
• At least 1,140 people wounded
• 1 airfield still under military faction's control
• At least 200 soldiers turned themselves in to police in Ankara
• 11 years: Erdogan's reign as Prime Minister
• 2014: Year that Erdogan ran for President -- and won
The Turkish military claim of a takeover was read on state broadcaster TRT. The anchor said the military imposed martial law.
The
military said the goal was to maintain democratic order and that the
"political administration that has lost all legitimacy has been forced
to withdraw."
But the attempted
coup lost momentum after Erdogan returned from vacation at the seaside
resort of Marmaris and declared his government in control. By the time
he re-emerged following hours of silence, dozens had died in a night of
violence.
Of the 161 deaths, most
were police officers killed in a gun battle with a helicopter near the
Parliament complex in Ankara, NTV reported. The building was damaged. In
addition, Yildirim said, 1,140 people were wounded.
At
least 2,839 military officers were detained, a source in the
President's office said. The Ankara chief public prosecutor's office
took nearly 200 top Turkish court officials into custody, Anatolian News
Agency reported Saturday.
The
officials include 140 members of the Supreme Court and 48 members of the
Council of State, one of Turkey's three high courts.
Those arrested included Huduti and Constitutional Court member Alparslan Altan, CNN Turk reported Saturday.
8 seek asylum in Greece
A
Turkish helicopter carrying eight men landed in Greece Saturday and the
men aboard requested political asylum, Greek government spokeswoman
Olga Gerovasili said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a tweeted requested "the immediate surrender of eight heinous soldiers."
But
Greece will not necessarily return the alleged coup plotters, the Greek
foreign minister said Saturday in a statement, which contradicted
Cavusoglu's earlier claim that the officer would be returned.
Greek
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said "it will be borne very seriously in
mind that the arrested parties stand accused in their country of
violating constitutional legality and attempting to overthrow
democracy." The asylum request "will be examined based on the provisions
of Greek and international law."
Gerovasili
said the helicopter -- which landed at an airport in Alexandroupoli,
near the Turkish border -- would be returned to Turkey.
A night of violence
Witnesses described hours of chaos in Turkey, including explosions, gunfire and low flying jets.
Bombs struck the Parliament building in Ankara. A helicopter allegedly stolen by coup plotters was shot down by an F-16.
Turkish people look at a burned car in Istanbul on Saturday.
In Istanbul, a defiant Erdogan addressed throngs of supporters, saying the coup had been quashed.
"The government is in control," he said amid chants of his name. He vowed to punish those behind the takeover attempt.
The surrender
Turkish soldiers walk with hands up 00:52
Shortly
after dawn, video footage showed soldiers surrendering. Hundreds turned
themselves in to police in Ankara, Turkish state media reported.
They
walked away from tanks and abandoned their posts on the Bosphorus
Bridge connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines resumed flights out of Istanbul Ataturk airport, which had been overrun by protesters.
A
Turkish police officer embracea a man on a tank after the military
position was taken over at the Anatolian side at Uskudar in Istanbul on
Saturday.
Erdogan took to task forces he blamed for what he called a treasonous putsch attempt.
"Now
I'm addressing those in Pennsylvania," he said, in an apparent
reference to Fethullah Gulen, a cleric and former ally in exile in
Pennsylvania.
"The betrayal you have shown to this nation and to this community, that's enough," he added.
On Saturday, before throngs of supporters, Erdogan demanded that the U.S. hand over Gulen.
In a statement, Gulen denied any connection and said he condemned the coup attempt.
People protesting against the coup wave a Turkish flag on top of the monument in Taksim Square.
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general
election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
Hide Caption
10 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Romanian
President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together
during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in
Ankara, Turkey, on March 23, 2016.
Hide Caption
11 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on March 28, 2016.
Hide Caption
12 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul
watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day
in Istanbul on April 10, 2016.
Hide Caption
13 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi
monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on April 12, 2016.
Hide Caption
14 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
15 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on June 18, 2016.
Hide Caption
16 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion
campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on June 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
17 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
From
left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois
Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their
positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential
palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8, 2016.
Hide Caption
18 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul
on Friday, July 15, 2016, after members of the country's military
attempted to overthrow the government.
Hide Caption
1 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses people gathered at his palace for Iftar -- the meal eaten
after sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan -- in Ankara,
Turkey, on June 27, 2016.
Hide Caption
2 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
oversees the rescue efforts in the eastern province of Bingol on May 1,
2003, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Turkish
region.
Hide Caption
3 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Russian
President Vladimir Putin, left, and Erdogan wear helmets in Durusu
village near Turkey's northern city of Samsun, on November 17, 2005,
during the inauguration ceremony for the major trans-Black Sea gas
pipeline Blue Stream. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey.
Hide Caption
4 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses the media after a meeting with his deputies at his ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey,
on May 1, 2007. Erdogan unveiled a reform package, including having
future presidents elected by popular vote instead of by parliament.
Hide Caption
5 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Britain's
Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan,
gives a David Beckham signed soccer ball to a Turkish boy during at a
garden party held for her birthday at the British Embassy in Ankara,
Turkey, on May 16, 2008. It was the Queen's first visit to Turkey in 37
years.
Hide Caption
6 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
U.S.
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Erdogan during a meeting in
the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on December 7, 2009.
Hide Caption
7 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
his wife Emine, his grandchildren and Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, left, greet the crowd at a presidential
election rally in Istanbul on August 3, 2014.
Hide Caption
8 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
attends a swearing in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on August 28, 2014.
Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in
parliament, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern
leader.
Hide Caption
9 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general
election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
Hide Caption
10 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Romanian
President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together
during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in
Ankara, Turkey, on March 23, 2016.
Hide Caption
11 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on March 28, 2016.
Hide Caption
12 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul
watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day
in Istanbul on April 10, 2016.
Hide Caption
13 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi
monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on April 12, 2016.
Hide Caption
14 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
15 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on June 18, 2016.
Hide Caption
16 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion
campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on June 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
17 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
From
left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois
Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their
positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential
palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8, 2016.
Hide Caption
18 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul
on Friday, July 15, 2016, after members of the country's military
attempted to overthrow the government.
Hide Caption
1 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses people gathered at his palace for Iftar -- the meal eaten
after sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan -- in Ankara,
Turkey, on June 27, 2016.
Hide Caption
2 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
oversees the rescue efforts in the eastern province of Bingol on May 1,
2003, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Turkish
region.
Hide Caption
3 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Russian
President Vladimir Putin, left, and Erdogan wear helmets in Durusu
village near Turkey's northern city of Samsun, on November 17, 2005,
during the inauguration ceremony for the major trans-Black Sea gas
pipeline Blue Stream. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey.
Hide Caption
4 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses the media after a meeting with his deputies at his ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey,
on May 1, 2007. Erdogan unveiled a reform package, including having
future presidents elected by popular vote instead of by parliament.
Hide Caption
5 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Britain's
Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan,
gives a David Beckham signed soccer ball to a Turkish boy during at a
garden party held for her birthday at the British Embassy in Ankara,
Turkey, on May 16, 2008. It was the Queen's first visit to Turkey in 37
years.
Hide Caption
6 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
U.S.
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Erdogan during a meeting in
the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on December 7, 2009.
Hide Caption
7 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
his wife Emine, his grandchildren and Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, left, greet the crowd at a presidential
election rally in Istanbul on August 3, 2014.
Hide Caption
8 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
attends a swearing in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on August 28, 2014.
Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in
parliament, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern
leader.
Hide Caption
9 of 18
Erdogan
was elected Prime Minister in 2003. Under his rule, Turkey became a
powerhouse in the Middle East. His reign came to an end in 2014, and his
own party's rules prevented him from seeking a fourth term.
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general
election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
Hide Caption
10 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Romanian
President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together
during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in
Ankara, Turkey, on March 23, 2016.
Hide Caption
11 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on March 28, 2016.
Hide Caption
12 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul
watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day
in Istanbul on April 10, 2016.
Hide Caption
13 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi
monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on April 12, 2016.
Hide Caption
14 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
15 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on June 18, 2016.
Hide Caption
16 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion
campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on June 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
17 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
From
left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois
Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their
positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential
palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8, 2016.
Hide Caption
18 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul
on Friday, July 15, 2016, after members of the country's military
attempted to overthrow the government.
Hide Caption
1 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses people gathered at his palace for Iftar -- the meal eaten
after sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan -- in Ankara,
Turkey, on June 27, 2016.
Hide Caption
2 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
oversees the rescue efforts in the eastern province of Bingol on May 1,
2003, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Turkish
region.
Hide Caption
3 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Russian
President Vladimir Putin, left, and Erdogan wear helmets in Durusu
village near Turkey's northern city of Samsun, on November 17, 2005,
during the inauguration ceremony for the major trans-Black Sea gas
pipeline Blue Stream. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey.
Hide Caption
4 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses the media after a meeting with his deputies at his ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey,
on May 1, 2007. Erdogan unveiled a reform package, including having
future presidents elected by popular vote instead of by parliament.
Hide Caption
5 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Britain's
Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan,
gives a David Beckham signed soccer ball to a Turkish boy during at a
garden party held for her birthday at the British Embassy in Ankara,
Turkey, on May 16, 2008. It was the Queen's first visit to Turkey in 37
years.
Hide Caption
6 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
U.S.
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Erdogan during a meeting in
the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on December 7, 2009.
Hide Caption
7 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
his wife Emine, his grandchildren and Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, left, greet the crowd at a presidential
election rally in Istanbul on August 3, 2014.
Hide Caption
8 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
attends a swearing in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on August 28, 2014.
Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in
parliament, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern
leader.
Hide Caption
9 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
leaves a polling booth after casting his vote in Turkey's 26th general
election at a polling station in Istanbul on November 1, 2015.
Hide Caption
10 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Romanian
President Klaus Werner Iohannis, right, and Erdogan walk together
during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in
Ankara, Turkey, on March 23, 2016.
Hide Caption
11 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan delivers a speech during his visit to the Turkish War Colleges Command in Istanbul on March 28, 2016.
Hide Caption
12 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, kicks a soccer ball while Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul
watches at Besiktas soccer club's new Vodafone Arena on its opening day
in Istanbul on April 10, 2016.
Hide Caption
13 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, shakes hands with King Salman of Saudi Arabia after the Saudi
monarch received Turkey's highest state medal during a ceremony at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on April 12, 2016.
Hide Caption
14 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
center, chairs the meeting of the 65th Cabinet of Turkey at the
presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on May 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
15 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, seventh from the left, attends the Kinaliada Corvette Ceremony at Pendik Naval Shipyard in Istanbul on June 18, 2016.
Hide Caption
16 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
right, attends an Iftar dinner during his visit to the Tank Battalion
campus in the Cizre district of Sirnak, Turkey, on June 25, 2016.
Hide Caption
17 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
From
left, U.S. President Barack Obama, France's President Francois
Hollande, Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel take their
positions for a photo ahead of a working dinner at the presidential
palace during the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland, on July 8, 2016.
Hide Caption
18 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul
on Friday, July 15, 2016, after members of the country's military
attempted to overthrow the government.
Hide Caption
1 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses people gathered at his palace for Iftar -- the meal eaten
after sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan -- in Ankara,
Turkey, on June 27, 2016.
Hide Caption
2 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
oversees the rescue efforts in the eastern province of Bingol on May 1,
2003, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Turkish
region.
Hide Caption
3 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Russian
President Vladimir Putin, left, and Erdogan wear helmets in Durusu
village near Turkey's northern city of Samsun, on November 17, 2005,
during the inauguration ceremony for the major trans-Black Sea gas
pipeline Blue Stream. The pipeline runs from Russia to Turkey.
Hide Caption
4 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
addresses the media after a meeting with his deputies at his ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey,
on May 1, 2007. Erdogan unveiled a reform package, including having
future presidents elected by popular vote instead of by parliament.
Hide Caption
5 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Britain's
Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan,
gives a David Beckham signed soccer ball to a Turkish boy during at a
garden party held for her birthday at the British Embassy in Ankara,
Turkey, on May 16, 2008. It was the Queen's first visit to Turkey in 37
years.
Hide Caption
6 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
U.S.
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Erdogan during a meeting in
the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on December 7, 2009.
Hide Caption
7 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan,
his wife Emine, his grandchildren and Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbas, left, greet the crowd at a presidential
election rally in Istanbul on August 3, 2014.
Hide Caption
8 of 18
Photos: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan
attends a swearing in ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on August 28, 2014.
Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in
parliament, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern
leader.
Hide Caption
9 of 18
He
ran for president -- and won. Before Erdogan, the presidency of Turkey
was a largely ceremonial role, but Erdogan tried to change that by
altering the constitution to give him more power.
Under
Erdogan, who is extremely conservative, religion had started to play a
more important role in Turkey, which is a largely secular country.
How did Turkey get here?
Turkey has a long history of military coups 00:56
Today,
the Turkish government is simultaneously battling two deadly terrorist
organizations -- ISIS and the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Society
is widely polarized between people who love or loathe Erdogan. Security
services routinely use force to crush attempts at public protests
against the government. Human rights groups constantly criticize the
government for the arrest of critical journalists.
The violence has also taken its toll on the tourism industry and the value of the country's currency.
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