DHAKA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has flown in to Istanbul, after an army group said it took over the country.

He was seen surrounded by supporters, and said the coup attempt was an “act of treason” in a live TV speech, reports the BBC.

The army group earlier declared that a “peace council” now ran the country and there was a curfew and martial law.

But Prime Minister Binali Yildirim later said the situation was largely under control and a no-fly zone was in force over the capital Ankara.

Yildirim also said 130 people had so far been arrested, and he ordered the military to shoot down aircraft being used by coup plotters.

Earlier, one of the helicopters being flown by forces involved in the coup attempt was shot down over Ankara.

However, the whereabouts of the military chief of staff General Hulusi Aka remains unknown.

Istanbul’s main Ataturk airport is now under army control and flights - which had been interrupted for some hours - are due to resume from 06:00 (03:00 GMT).

Earlier, the prosecutor’s office in Ankara said at least 42 people have been killed on what appears to be a coup attempt.

BDST: 0845 HRS, JUL 16, 2016
SR