Erdogan says government in charge following coup attempt in Turkey

(Vatican Radio) Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted to the nation Saturday that his government is in charge following a coup attempt.

Speaking on national television, President Erdogan gave a defiant speech from Istanbul, following an attempt by a section of the army to overthrow his government.

President Erdogan returned to the city, after the Prime Minister said the situation in the country was under control.

Listen to this report by Nathan Morley

Mr. Erdogan said the attempted coup was an 'act of treason' and the army needed to be cleansed.

Turkey has appointed Umit Dundar as the head of its First Army, while the whereabouts of the current head of the armed forces is unclear.

As events unfolded late on Friday, the army said it had taken control of the country and imposed Marshall Law. A statement from the group was read on TRT Television, which went off air soon afterwards.

The situation in the two biggest cities Ankara and Istanbul remains confusing - there are reports of tanks still firing at the Parliament in Ankara and a private TV station reported a bomb attack on the Presidential Palace, but the reports could not be verified.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has ordered aircraft hijacked by coup plotters to be shot down. So far, it is reported that 200 people have now been arrested in connection with the coup.

The prosecutor's office in Ankara says at least 42 people have been killed in the city - other reports suggest the figure is 60 - most of them civilians. Further casualties have been reported in Istanbul.