What’s happening in Turkey: Everything you need to know

READ: Turkey military coup: Full coverage

Why the coup attempt: The chaos capped a period of political turmoil in Turkey which critics blamed on Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian rule, which has included a government shake-up, a crackdown on dissidents and opposition media and renewed conflict in the mainly Kurdish areas of the southeast. The night of drama and bloodshed brings new instability to the Middle East region, with Turkey a key powerbroker in the ongoing Syria conflict. The coup attempt has a precedent though: there have been four successful military coup in Turkey ever since the modern state of Turkey was created. However, what is not clear yet is the percentage of military involved or who its leaders are at this stage.

READ: All soldiers involved reportedly taken into custody; over 2000 judges removed

Turkish people celebrate as Turkish police officers, loyal to the government, stand atop tanks abandoned by Turkish army officers against a backdrop of Istanbul’s iconic Bosporus Bridge, Saturday, July 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

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What was government’s response: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the uprising was an “act of treason”, and those responsible would pay a heavy price as he pointed towards a cleansing of the military. Erdogan accused the coup plotters of trying to kill him and launched a purge of the armed forces, which last used force to stage a successful coup more than 30 years ago. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that 2,839 members of Turkish army have been detained. They range from ordinary soldiers to high-ranking officers, after the country weathered the worst of an attempted coup by an army faction to oust a civilian government.

READ: All soldiers involved reportedly taken into custody; over 2000 judges removed

Turkish people holding flags are driven in a car, backdropped by Istanbul’s iconic Bosporus Bridge. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation Saturday that his government is in charge after a coup attempt. (Source AP)

READ: Turkey coup: All your questions answered

Death toll: Although the death toll has reportedly crossed 250, Gen. Umit Dundar, the newly appointed acting chief of the general staff, said more than 190 people died in clashes: 41 police officers, two soldiers, 47 civilians and 104 people described as “coup plotters.”

International response:

US: The US has thrown its weight behind the democratically-elected government of Turkish President Recep Erdogan amidst reports of a military coup in the country which is a key NATO-ally of America. US President Barack Obama urged all parties in Turkey to show restraint, avoid violence and support the Erdogan government. “The President and Secretary agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the democratically-elected Government of Turkey, show restraint, and avoid any violence or bloodshed,” the White House said in a statement yesterday.

Greece: Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras early today expressed his “support for the democratically elected” Turkish government.

Supporters of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest in Istanbul’s Taksim square. The government has made 120 arrest so far,on charge of plotting to over through the government.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Georgia: Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said the country’s security council on Saturday discussed “threats that might arise to Georgia” from the situation and said both land and air borders had been closed.

China: Beijing too called on Turkey to restore order and stability as soon as possible after a coup attempt, state television cited China’s foreign ministry as saying on Saturday.

Spain: Spain’s acting foreign minister, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo, tells Spanish national television that his government completely supports the Turkish government headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He says “we condemn all coups without reservation.”

Who is the cleric being reportedly blamed for the coup attempt: 

Turkey Coup: Trained as an imam, or prayer leader, Fethullah Gulen gained notice in Turkey some 50 years ago

A lawyer for the Turkish government says “there are indications of direct involvement” in the coup attempt of a cleric who is living in exile in Pennsylvania. Robert Amsterdam said in a statement Friday evening that he and his firm “have attempted repeatedly to warn the US government of the threat posed” by Fethullah Gulen and his movement. He says that according to Turkish intelligence sources, “there are signs that Gulen is working closely with certain members of military leadership against the elected civilian government.” The president of a group that promotes Gulen’s ideas denied the charges. Y Alp Aslandogan of the New York-based Alliance for Shared Values tells The Associated Press “we categorically deny such accusations and find them to be highly irresponsible.”

READ: Who is Fethullah Gulen: The cleric being blamed for Turkey coup attempt

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Turkish military helicopter lands in Greece, 8 request asylum: According to latest report, eight Turkish military personnel had landed in Greece and requested political asylum. Greece had arrested eight men aboard a Turkish military helicopter. Meanwhile, the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu following the report has demanded the return of eight military personnel after the failed coup. According to an official in the Greek National Defence General Staff, “the helicopter is scheduled to be sent back immediately to Turkey”.

READ: Greece to examine asylum requests of Turkish soldiers: reports

What do the coup leaders say: Some soldiers, now in custody, reportedly thought Turkey coup attempt was just an exercise, according to AP.

What is the situation now:  Hundreds of people waving Turkish flags have gathered outside of the parliament in Ankara to protest the coup attempt as legislators prepare to hold an emergency session.  In an unprecedented show of unity, all four parties represented in parliament are expected to issue a joint declaration Saturday condemning the attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. The extraordinary session began with a minute of silence in honor of those who lost their lives during the coup, followed by the singing of the national anthem. Officials say 161 civilians or pro-government security forces were killed during the coup, along with an undetermined number of coup plotters.

(with inputs from agencies)