Turkey’s president has promised that those who tried to overthrow his government will pay a heavy price for their attempted coup.
A night of chaos in Turkey has ended with the country president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan still in charge.
The appearance of Erdoğan, who was able to return to Istanbul from his hideaway on the Aegean Sea, helped to calm fears that Turkey was about to fall into the hands of a destabilising faction of the military.
In total, almost 200 people died, including 104 of the ‘plotters’ who had tried to overthrow the government.
“Turkey has a democratically elected government and president,” Erdoğan said after landing.
“We are in charge and we will continue exercising our powers until the end. We will not abandon our country to these invaders. It will end well.”
According to Turkish officials, around 1,560 military personnel believed to have been involved in the attempted coup – Turkey’s fifth in 60 years – have been arrested.
Erdoğan said that they will pay a heavy price for threatening the country’s democracy.
“The people have taken to the streets and voiced their support for democracy,” said Ümit Dündar, appointed overnight as the acting chairman of the joint chiefs of staff after the alleged kidnapping of his predecessor by coup forces.
“Turkey displayed a historic cooperation between the government and the people. The nation will never forget this betrayal. Turkey has irreversibly closed the chapter of military coups.”
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