LIVE BLOG: Coup attempt in Turkey

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior EU officials on Saturday condemned "in the strongest terms" the failed coup in Turkey, but called on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to deal with the plotters lawfully.

The treatment "of those responsible for the tragic events of last night can and should only be handled according to the rule of law," she said after the coup bid, which left more than 250 people dead.

Several senior military figures, and a top judge have been detained since the coup attempt, and over 2,500 other judges across the country dismissed.

The government also said that almost 3,000 soldiers had been arrested in a major purge of the armed forces.

Addressing Erdogan but not mentioning him by name, Merkel said that "democracy, which respects everybody's rights and protects minorities, is the best foundation (for the rule of law)".

Germany stands by "all those who, in Turkey, defend democracy and the rule of law," she said, adding that political change should only take place through parliament.

Senior European figures echoed Merkel's message, with EU parliament president Martin Schulz stressing that the Turkish government "must not use this occasion to breach democratic rule, restrict freedom of speech and fundamental rights".

"One-man rule and arbitrary decisions are not acceptable in a country which is not only a strategic ally but also an accession candidate to the European Union," he said.

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in a joint statement with the bloc's enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn, condemned the coup attempt and voiced support for Turkey's "democratic institutions".

The statement urged restraint from the police and security forces in their response to the coup plotters, "to prevent further casualties".

"Societal tensions can only be addressed through democratic processes," Mogherini said.

Egypt on Saturday blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution backed by the United States condemning the attempted coup d'etat in Turkey, diplomats said.

The United States, following consultations with officials from key NATO ally Turkey, had proposed a draft statement calling on "all parties in Turkey to respect the democratically elected government of Turkey."

But Egypt, currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council, objected.

Its relations with the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been particularly tense.

Erdogan supports the Muslim Brotherhood of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who was deposed by the Egyptian army in 2013.

The Turkish leader has denounced that move as a "coup d'etat," drawing the wrath of the Egyptian general behind the ouster, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now president.

During the UN debate, Egypt argued that it was "not for the Security Council to decide whether the government is democratically elected," and it demanded that the relevant language be deleted, a diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Despite US insistence, Egypt would not budge.

Turkey and several Security Council members including the United States worried the statement would have been too weak without wording explicitly supporting the Turkish government.

"So there won't be any statement," the diplomat said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday urged the United States to extradite the preacher Fethullah Gulen, who he accuses of masterminding the failed coup, to face justice in Turkey.

"The United States - you must extradite that person," he told thousands of supporters in Istanbul, referring to Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania and has denied any involvement in Friday's attempted coup.

Gulen said that he condemned the coup attempt "in the strongest terms".

"As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations," Gulen said in a statement late Friday.

"I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey," read the two-paragraph statement. 

"Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force. 

"I pray to God for Turkey, for Turkish citizens, and for all those currently in Turkey that this situation is resolved peacefully and quickly," he said.

Gulen, 75, was once a close ally of Erdogan but the two fell out in recent years as Erdogan became suspicious of Gulen's movement, Hizmet, and its powerful presence in Turkish society, including the media, police and judiciary.

The preacher moved to the United States in 1999, before he was charged with treason in his native country.

Live feed of protests in Amniyet Faith

The US military has suspended air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq from a base in southern Turkey, a US official said.

Operations from the Incirlik air base were suspended because of the closure of the airspace used by the missions, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.

US forces "were adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimize any effects on the campaign," he said, apparently suggesting missions against the Islamic State (IS) group - also known as ISIL - could launch from other locations.

The Turkish authorities imposed a security lockdown at Incirlik on Saturday following the attempted coup d'etat by military officers overnight.

US forces use Incirlik to launch bombing missions against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq. They have notably deployed drones, Prowler electronic warplanes and A-10 ground attack aircraft from the base.

Turkish media outlets have reported that the Constitutional Court Jude Alparslan Altan was removed from post after the coup attempt. No reason was give as to why but Daily Sabah have reported that Altan was linked to the Gulen movement. 

Senior members of the Turkish judiciary have been arrested after yesterdays failed coup attempt. According to various reports by Turkish media, 11 court of appeals members and four members of the Supreme board of judges and prosecutors were also arrrested. 

MEE's Suraj Sharma reports that two military commanders have been arrested by Turkish security services.

The commanders arrested include:

• Adem Huduti: Commander of the Second Army
• Avni Angun: The Malatya Garrison commander.

Footage has emerged of a Turkish army helicopter which landed at Alexandroupolis airport in Greece containing seven men in military fatigues and one man in plain clothes. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted that "eight traitors" had escaped by helicopter to Greece and called for their immediate return. 

Parliamentarians from across the political divide have come together to show a united front against yesterdays attempted coup by factions within the Turkish Army.  The national anthem was sung before a joint declaration was read out by all four major parties present in the parliament, condemning the attempted coup that was foiled.

Turkish Newspaper Cumhuriyet is reporting that the Incirlik airbase has been shut down and power to it has been cut off. The report is being based on a note to US citizens by its consulate in Adana that they should stay away from the base until further notice.  The airspace around the airbase has also been shut down by Turkish authorities. A move most likely done in conjunction with the closure of airspace in other parts of Turkey being closed down. CNN international have also reported that Turkish officials have stopped entering or leaving the base.  

John Kerry earlier this morning said that Incirlik airbase was still functioning and that US-led operations against the Islamic State (IS) group have not been disrupted. When the airspace was shut down, there were still American fighter jets conducting missions against IS targets.  

The base is the home of the 10th Air Wing of the 2nd Air Force Command of the Turkish Air Force. It is also has a US Air Force complement of about five thousand airmen, with several hundred airmen from the Royal Air 

More details as it emerges. 

Many Turks who spoke to Middle East Eye believe the calm in Istanbul to be temporary and preparing for another night of resistance. Despite the deaths of 161 people across the country, citizens are ignoring the risks to prevent another Egypt in their country. Read more here.

Two Turkish Majors, a captain and five privates have requested asylum in Greece after landing in a Blackhawk military helicopter.