President Obama convened an emergency meeting of his national security team at the White House Saturday morning to discuss the attempted coup in Turkey.
The White House said the president held a conference call in the Situation Room Saturday with his national-security advisers and “broader foreign policy team” to receive updates on the crisis.
Mr. Obama “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for the democratically-elected, civilian government of Turkey,” the White House said. The president instructed his team to continue to work with their Turkish counterparts “to maintain the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel, U.S. servicemembers, and their dependents.”
“While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability,” the White House said. “The president also underscored the shared challenges that will require continued Turkish cooperation, including our joint efforts against terrorism.”
The administration was caught off-guard Friday night by the attempted military overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an uprising that killed at least 161 people and injured more than 1,400. Mr. Obama had called on all parties in Turkey Friday to “support the democratically-elected Government of Turkey, show restraint, and avoid any violence or bloodshed.”
Turkey is a NATO member and a crucial player in the U.S. efforts to fight the Islamic State in neighboring Syria.
After a night of gunfire, explosions and tanks in the streets, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Saturday the situation was under control. A total of 2,839 military officers reportedly have been detained.
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump commented Saturday about “a lot of anguish” in Turkey overnight, saying Americans have many friends in the country.
“It looks like they’re resolving the difficulty, but we wish them well,” Mr. Trump said.
Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee and former secretary of State, said she watched the attempted coup “with great concern.”
“We should all urge calm and respect for laws, institutions, and basic human rights and freedoms — and support for the democratically elected civilian government,” she said in a statement.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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