Foreign Minister Kotzias Tells Turkey: ‘Greece Condemns any Coup Attempt’

“Greece condemns any coup attempt”, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, during a telephone discussion on Saturday.

The discussion took place following an attempted coup in Turkey late on Friday that included explosions, gunfire and tanks rolling along the streets.

“Greece supports the Turkish people’s struggle for democracy and defence of constitutional order in Turkey”, Minister Kotzias added.

At least 161 people died and another 1,440 people were injured across the country after an attempt by members of the military to take control from President Tayyip Erdogan.

According to reports, events began on Friday evening when tanks took up positions on two bridges over the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, blocking it to traffic. Troops were seen on the streets and low-flying military jets were filmed over Ankara.

The military coup attempt crumbled after crowds answered Erdogan’s call to take to the streets and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks.

At a press conference in Ankara on Saturday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that 2,839 soldiers including high-ranking officers, were arrested in connection with the coup attempt, which he called a “black stain on Turkish democracy”.

The Turkish PM said the situation was now “completely under control” and the government’s commanders were now back in charge.