Emerging reports from Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkey, say that a military coup is underway to remove President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power.

However, initial reports are hazy and the extent of the situation is not fully known at the time of publication.

President Erdogan

The Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, according to several media outlets announced that the government would not allow a coup attempt to take place and that he would uphold democracy.

Reuters news reported that “Turkish prime minister says military action being taken without chain of command.”

The Telegraph in the UK have said that low flying jets and gunfire were heard in Ankara and that the State TV TRT is reportedly off air.

Turkish citizens have been uploading cell phone videos of tanks rolling through streets and of military fighter jets flying very low over cities.

The military issued a statement saying that “the power of the country has been seized in its entirety” on the NTV television, according to the UK Telegraph.

Take to streets

Meanwhile, President Erdogan has urged Turkey people to take to the streets.