Obama urges support for Turkish government
US President Barack Obama has called on all sides in Turkey to avoid “any violence or bloodshed” amid the ongoing military coup in the country.
Obama urged support for the “democratically-elected” Turkish government on Friday after an army group said it has taken over the country.
The White House said that the president has been briefed by aides on events in Turkey.
"The president's national security team has apprised him of the unfolding situation in Turkey," said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.
In addition, US Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized the United States' "absolute support" for Turkey's government during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"I spoke this evening to Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and emphasized the United States' absolute support for Turkey's democratically elected, civilian government and democratic institutions," Kerry said in a statement.
The Turkish military released a statement Friday saying, "The power in the country has been seized in its entirety."
The statement went on to say that the military aims to "reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms," and "to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for the law and order to be reinstated."
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly safe, although there has been no immediate report about his whereabouts.
Speaking on cellphone to CNN Turk, the Turkish president said this is an act encouraged by "parallel structure".
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