Turkish coup soldiers surrender, Erdogan stands strong

A Turkish army faction backed by tanks and fighter jets staged an attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the strongman claimed to have regained control shortly after returning to Istanbul today.

Following Erdogan's return, the Turkish coup soldiers in Istanbul surrendered on Bosphorus bridge, but not before several casualties were made there.

AFP reported that television pictures showed dozens of soldiers surrendering on the bridge in Istanbul, which connects Europe and Asia, that they had held throughout the night.

The soldiers, dressed in full camouflage, walked out from behind their tank holding their hands above their heads, NTV television showed. The state-run Anadolu Agency said 50 soldiers were arrested.

Pictures showed Erdogan supporters jubilantly jumping onto one of the tanks left behind by the departing soldiers, cheering, making victory signs and waving the Turkish flag.

Others sought to run across the bridge that had been closed all night, kicking the helmets and protective gear left behind by the rebel soldiers as they passed.

"They were not able to catch me"

So said Erdogan today on the military faction responsible for launching the coup attempt last night.

Below are excerpts of his statement made at a media conference at the Atartuk International Airport upon his return:

"They are flying F16s above the Ataturk Aiport (Istanbul).

"Why are they doing this? They are doing it to take over our country.

"Now, this airport (Ataturk airport in Istanbul) is back to normal operations.

"They were following me from where I was coming from. However, I managed to leave before they realise that I have left. But they must be right behind me.

"They were not able to catch me.

"However, I do not know the status of some of the high ranking government officials. They have taken them. They have taken my general secretary as well. Why would they take my general secretary? I do not know what is their status. I haven't heard from them.

"I cannot find them. I haven't heard a single sound from them.

"This country belong to all of us. To you and to the soldiers as well.

"I am calling all of you soldiers to drop your guns. Your job is to defend this country. Defend your mothers. Your brothers. Your sisters and your country. These guns are provided to you by the people of this country to defend them. Not to shoot/kill them.

"If you continue to use the guns that was provided to you by the people against them, the penalty against you will be very steep.

"Look, there are already a few of you (soldiers) that have been captured. So I urge you to put down your guns.

"If you surrender your guns cleanly, we will let you leave cleanly. If you continue to use your guns against the citizens, we will declare you as terrorists and we will treat you as terrorists.

"The world is watching us. The world is condemning your actions. The end of this cannot be good if you do not surrender cleanly. In the civil government, the leaders of this government is elected by the people of this country. You need to respect the leaders just as you would respect or honour the leaders in your army regiment.

"You cannot be killing the people that provided you with the guns that you are holding."

Erdogan was quick to pin the blame on "the parallel state" and "Pennsylvania" -- a reference to Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, his arch-enemy who he has always accused of seeking to overthrow him.

But Gulen's Hizmet (Service) movement angrily denied the claim, saying "we condemn any military intervention in domestic politics of Turkey."