JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday welcomed the restoration of normalcy to Turkey after a failed coup attempt the night before.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia “welcomes the restoration of peace and security in Turkey and the return of the legitimately elected government of President Erdogan.
“We are confident that the Turkish government is capable of bringing the situations back to normal and ensure stability.”
Members of Turkey's armed forces declared hours earlier that they had taken control of the country as explosions, gunfire and a reported air battle between loyalist forces and supporters of the coup erupted in Ankara, the capital. Erdogan called on the Turkish people to flood the streets in a show of support for his embattled government.
But by Saturday, forces loyal Erdogan quashed the coup attempt. Authorities arrested thousands of people amid gunfire that left dozens of people dead, and Erdogan vowed that those responsible "will pay a heavy price for their treason."
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sent a mass text message to Turkish mobile phones on Saturday imploring Turks to “stand up” for democracy and peace.
The message which came from “RT ERDOGAN” and was signed with his full name, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also called on people to take to the streets against a “narrow cadre.”
RELATED STORIES: