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An Anonymous Coward writes:

The Turkish military traditionally considered itself the protector of the secular nature of the Turkish State. Since about 21:30h CET it appears they -- or at least a part of the Turkish Army -- has acted on this traditional role.

The bridges over the Bosporus [twitter.com], connecting the European and the Asian parts of Istanbul, have been occupied by the military -- soldiers shouting that a curfew has been imposed. Istanbul airport has been shut down, and the borders sealed off. Shots have been heard in the neigborhood of both Army Headquarters, and the headquarter of the ruling AKP party. Rumor has it that the Chief Staff of the Army -- an Erdogan sympathizer -- has been taken hostage in the Army Headquarters. Rumors are that military and police are standing opposed to each other in Istanbul, while Police and/or Army helicopters slowly circle over the city, and tanks have appeared in the streets.

The action isn't limited to Istanbul -- reports of unrest are also coming in from Izmir and Ankara.

Reports coming in from anonymous sources within the EU diplomatic services claim that a significant part of the Army is behind the coup, which appears to be well planned. President Erdogan, apparently currently in Mongolia, has called upon the Turkish people to go on the streets, negating the evening clock reported to be installed by the military.

The last military coup in Turkey dates from 1980.

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