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Live Reporting

Gerry Holt and Roland Hughes

All times stated are UK

  1. Failed Turkey coup: A summary of today's key developments

    Turkish citizens wave their national flag and shout slogans, as they protest against the military coup outside Turkey's parliament near the Turkish military headquarters in Ankara

    That's all from us for now, so we'll leave you with a summary of today's key developments: 

    • Turkey's Prime Minister Binaldi Yildirim has declared last night's failed coup attempt over, calling it a "black stain" on the country's democracy and promising harsh punishment for those involved
    • The president’s bureau has put the total death toll at 265, including 161 civilians and 104 coup "plotters"
    • Some 3,000 soldiers - two high level generals reportedly among them - have been detained
    • Hundreds of judges across the country have been dismissed
    • Politicians from across the political divide have united in condemnation of the coup at an emergency session of parliament in Ankara 
    • The Greek authorities say a Turkish military helicopter landed in Greece this morning and eight people on board, reported to include some of those behind the coup, have requested political asylum. Turkey says it expects the men to be sent back
    • American diplomats say the Turkish authorities have sealed off the Incirlik air base in the south of the country, which is used by the US in the fight against militants in Syria

    You can continue to follow the latest developments here

  2. President Erdogan: US must extradite suspected coup plotter

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded the US hand over the Muslim cleric he blames for the attempted coup.  

    Speaking at a rally in Istanbul, he said there were "foreign external forces who want to turn this nation against its armed forces". 

    Fethullah Gulen has rejected any suggestion of links to what happened, saying he condemned the action "in the strongest terms".

  3. Why did the coup in Turkey fail?

    Video content

    Video caption: Why did the coup in Turkey fail?

    One expert gives his assessment of why this coup attempt did not succeed.

  4. Latest images from around the country following attempted coup

    People wait for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to appear for a speech outside his residence in Istanbul, Turkey
    Image caption: Supporters of President Erdogan wait for him to appear for a speech outside his residence in Istanbul
    People stand on top of an abandoned armoured vehicle outside the presidential palace in Ankara
    Image caption: People stand on top of an abandoned armoured vehicle outside the presidential palace in Ankara
    People look at destroyed cars outside the presidential palace in Ankara
    Image caption: Destroyed cars outside the presidential palace in Ankara
  5. Jeremy Bowen: Why Turkish stability matters

    Jeremy Bowen

    BBC Middle East editor

    President Erdogan and his governments have been deeply involved in the war in Syria since it started in 2011, backing mainly Islamist militias fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

    But violence has spread across the border, helping to reignite the fight with the Kurdish PKK, and turning Turkey into a target for the jihadists who call themselves Islamic State.

    The West sees Turkey as part of the solution in the Middle East. That requires stability, and without it a simple equation applies.

    Turmoil in the Middle East plus turmoil in Turkey equals trouble for everyone.

    But it can be argued that Turkey has made a lot of trouble on its own in the region and is deeply tied up in the conflicts of its neighbours.  

    Read more of Jeremy's piece here.

  6. Who might have been behind the coup plot?

    Turkish military block access to the Bosphorus bridge, which links the city"s European and Asian sides, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 15, 2016.

    That's the question that Ezgi Basaran, a Turkish journalist and academic visitor at St Antony's College, Oxford University, has tried to answer for us.

    A few things are certain: this coup attempt came out of the blue, but it's not unusual to see accusations of plots in Turkey.

    You can read more here.

  7. Obama urges Turkey to 'act within rule of law'

    A statement just released by the White House says President Obama has reiterated the United States' "unwavering support for the democratically-elected, civilian government of Turkey". 

    It adds: 

    Quote Message: While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability.
    Quote Message: The president also underscored the shared challenges that will require continued Turkish cooperation, including our joint efforts against terrorism.
  8. Update on Incirlik air base

    The US embassy in Ankara earlier confirmed that power was off at the Incirlik air base in Turkey, from where it launches its raids on the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL.

    Here's the latest update from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook:

    Quote Message: The Turkish government has closed its airspace to military aircraft, and as a result air operations at Incirlik Air Base have been halted at this time. US officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible. In the meantime, US Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimize any effects on the campaign. US facilities at Incirlik are operating on internal power sources and a loss of commercial power to the base has not affected base operations."
  9. Greek asylum request: The plot thickens

    Further to our post 25 minutes ago: it appears there's a very different view in Greece as to whether the eight Turks who arrived in a helicopter, claiming asylum, will be deported.

    A Greek journalist with Der Spiegel writes:

    No-one tell Turkey's foreign minister - he was insistent they would be deported.

  10. The view in Taksim Square: 'What is happening to our country?'

    Selin Gerit

    BBC, Istanbul

    People wave Turkish flags as they stand around the Republic Monument in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016

    A bright summer's day in central Istanbul, though far from normality...

    In Taksim Square, where the heart of this city beats, there is a group of people wrapped up in Turkish flags, shouting "God is great!" in protest at the coup attempt and in support of the government.

    This place would normally be packed with tourists, street musicians and people out shopping or having a drink in one of the many bars. Now it feels edgy, angry and sad.

    "What is happening to our country?" asks an old man. "Brothers are up in arms against each other,” meaning the clashes between the coup-plotting soldiers and the security forces loyal to President Erdogan’s government.

    "I fear there will be more bloodshed. Do you think we will be like Syria?" he asks.

  11. High-ranking member of Constitutional Court 'arrested'

    Various Turkish media outlets, including the Anadolu Agency, are now reporting that a high-ranking member of the Constitutional Court has now been arrested.

     Alparslan Altan is the vice-president of the court, the most authoritative in the country. 

  12. Death toll rises to 265 - president's office

    The office of the Turkish president has given an update on the number of people killed in the attempted coup.

    It says 161 civilians died, of whom 20 were "plotters".

    Another 104 "plotters" - presumably referring to soldiers - died, making a total of 265.

  13. First pictures from extraordinary session of parliament

    The extraordinary session of parliament opened with a minute's silence, followed by the national anthem. 

    The leaders of each party made speeches, along with a joint declaration condemning the attempted coup.

    General Hulusi Akar, who was held by the rebels and later rescued, appears in an extraordinary session of parliament in Ankara
    Image caption: General Hulusi Akar, who was held by the rebels and later rescued, appeared at the extraordinary session of parliament
    Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (front) addresses lawmakers at an extraordinary assembly at Turkish Parliament, in Ankara, Turkey
    Image caption: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said all four parties had agreed on a measures to stop possible coups in the future
    Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (C) and lawmakers attend a extraordinary assembly at Turkish Parliament
    Image caption: Mr Yildirim is applauded as he arrives in the building, in Ankara, which was attacked by tanks and aircraft overnight. Politicians spent the night there in shelters
  14. Contradictory noises about soldiers in Greece?

    Turkey's foreign minister seems convinced Greece will deport the eight Turks who fled there in a helicopter to seek asylum.

    There's still no word from Greek officials, but a journalist with Der Spiegel based in Greece has been posting updates on their case.

  15. Celebratory mood in Ankara

    Guardian Middle East correspondent tweets...

    Not even 24 hours ago, parts of Ankara were being struck by helicopter fire as the attempted coup got under way.

    Now, the city is celebrating the coup's failure, as this image by a Guardian Middle East correspondent shows... 

  16. Trump on failed Turkey coup: 'I hope it will all work out'

    Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has expressed concern over the coup attempt in Turkey, saying he hopes "it will all work out".

    He was speaking at a news conference to announce his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

  17. Turkish PM thanks politicians for their solidarity after coup attempt

    Selin Gerit

    BBC, Istanbul

    The prime minister, speaking in parliament, said this could be an extraordinary moment for Turkish politics, speaking of the solidarity seen among parties across the political spectrum following the coup. 

    He thanked them for their solidarity, for their courage, for not leaving the parliament, and said they would present an example for democracy around the world.

  18. Reports: Most senior accused officer is arrested

    BBC Monitoring

    Reports are emerging in the Turkish media that the Commander of the Second Army - part of the Land Forces of the Turkish Armed Forces - General Adem Huduti has been detained alongside a number of senior officers of the Second Army in connection with the coup attempt.

    If true, Gen Huduti might be the most senior active officer involved. Earlier, media reported on the arrest of another senior commander, Akin Ozturk, but it's emerged he was already retired.

    You can read more (in Turkish) in Hurriyet and on Anadolu Agency.

  19. Joint statement in Turkish parliament condemns coup - reports

    Turkey's four main political parties have condemned the coup attempt in a joint statement read in parliament, Reuters reports.