Turkish Military Coup

[Suff]

Seems that the Army are claiming they have taken the country over.

At least there's a fair amount of fighting going on right now so one side or the other is going to win. I guess we just need to see how strong the Army faction trying to take over is. It's been decades since they did this and I'm guessing they have finally lost patience. Probably the hint that they were going to get into bed with Assad was the final straw here.

Something to watch tonight. I came in from tearing the bike apart to the news..

[TheOstrich]

It is being reported that the Turkish president Erdoğan is on holiday and is outside the country. That might be a factor in why the coup was launched tonight.

[Suff]

I'm wondering how pervasive communication and social media are going to affect this.

Every other coup was carried out when many people didn't even have a landline phone. I wonder that they have not shut down the Internet and mobile phone system. That could be a huge miscalculation.

Apparently people are flooding onto the streets right now.1

We shall see how that turns out.

[Workingman]

According to UK news sources Erdogan's plea for people to take to the streets has not been heeded.

Unless it is stopped it looks like the beginning of the end of democracy in Turkey, at least for some time. Does that mean floods of Turks to Europe as well as more Syrians and others?

This has a very bad feel about it.

[Rodo]

Tanks in the centre and now missiles being fired at the main TV headquarters.

[Suff]

Interestingly the Turkish constitution, as set down by Ataturk, gives the Army the role of custodian of democracy and the guardian against Islamic take over.

Based Solely on the constitution and What Eerdogan has been doing, they could be justified.

It's going to be a long night but I'm off to bed.

[Kaz]

Seems that the attempted coup has been quashed! Many arrested, and a fair few deaths too

[Workingman]

The coup might be quashed but Turkey's troubles have gone up a level, or more.

[Suff]

It's right on track to become an Islamic state. Crushing the Army was the last step required in Erdogan's plan. Now his route is clear.

[Kaz]

I think you are right Suff Attaturk appointed the army as defenders of democracy when he laid down the constitution, I think that's behind the attempt and that has been quashed :/