Erdogan and Yildirimappeared on television soon after the coup was launched, declaring that the coup attempt isover and that they continue to be in charge.
Gunfire, bomb explosions and military airstrikes continued in the capital, Ankara, despite repeated statements by government officials that the putsch had beenrepelled.
Gradually, however, government forces seemed to take back control and pockets of rebel soldiers started surrendering.
Reports indicate that fighting continues even as the government has achieved the upper hand.
Erdogan, who had beenflown away from the capital to Istanbul, on Fridayurged his supporters to pour out onto the streets to stop the coup. On Saturday, he urged them to remain on the streets until the situation normalizes.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seen amid his supporters at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)[/caption]Earlier, AFP cited NTV television as saying on Saturday that a fighter jet droppedbombs near the Turkish presidential palace in Ankara.Plumes of black smoke were seen rising over the Bestepe district where the palace is located, according to the TV.
A presidential source said Turkish F-16s were launching airstrikes against tanks outside the palace.
Reuters cited CNN Turk as saying on Saturday that Turkish authorities shot down a military helicopter firing on the offices of state satellite operator Turksat.
A senior official has said Turkish military headquarters are now held by pro-government forces, but small groups of rebel soldiers are still resisting.
A secondofficial said 29 colonels and five generals have been removed from posts in the military amid the coup attempt.
A Turkish intelligence source told Reuters on Saturday that Turkeys intelligence agency headquarters were attacked by military helicopters and heavy machine gun fire during the attempted military coup overnight, wounding at least three people.
The head of the agency, Hakan Fidan, was at a secure location throughout the events and was in constant contact with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Yildirim, the source said.
The intelligence agency was still working with the armed forces, the police and the government against the coup plotters in ongoing operations in Istanbul and Ankara in particular, the source said.
A coup begins
A faction of the Turkish military declared last night that it had fully seized control of the country and that Erdogan and Yildirim were no more in charge.
Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported a bomb explosion at the parliament building.
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A policeman aims his weapon during an attempted coup in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)[/caption]Soldiers and tanks took to the streets late on Friday and multiple explosions rang out throughout the night inAnkaraand Istanbul, the two biggest cities of the strategic NATO member country.
Gunfire could be heard across the capitalas military warplanes and helicopters were flying low over the city.
Early statements of coup failure
However, on Saturday morning, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) said the coup attempt in the country has been repelled and the situation has been restored to normal.
Prime Minister Yildirim also announced in the early hours of Saturday morning that the situation is largely under control and that a no-fly zone was imposed over Ankara.
A number of renegade soldiers have reportedly surrendered in Istanbul.Reuters quoted a witness as saying that Erdogans supporters have attacked the soldiers who surrendered.
Uncertainty
Normal, however, did not seem at first to explain the situation in the country correctly.
A senior Turkish official, whose name was not mentioned inthe reports, said bomb attacks continued on the parliament building in Ankara.
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People sit amid rubble amid a coup attempt in Ankara, Turkey, July 16, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)[/caption]The official added that rebel soldiers were warned they will be shot down if they attempt to use more military aircraft.
90 killed
Ninety people were killed during the attempted coup, the Turkish state news agency said.
The number of those wounded in the coup attempt also reportedly stands at 1,154.
A senior official saidon Saturday that 1,563 individuals have been arrested across Turkey in connection with the putsch.
Whos to blame?
There are conflicting reports about who exactly the coup plotters were. Factions of the military apparently took on each other during the attempt.
Turkeys Hurriyet Daily News quoted Erdogan as telling CNN Turk that the US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen was responsible for the attempted coup.
Gulen, once Erdogans mentor, is now his perceived enemy number one.
However, he strongly condemned the attempted coup in a statement on Saturday.
As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations, Gulen said in a brief statement just before midnight Friday.
A group affiliated with the opposition Gulen Movement had condemned the coup attempt against the Turkish government earlier.
Meanwhile, Turkish military chief of staff, General Hulusi Akar, who was reported earlier to have been taken hostage by the coup plotters, has been rescued, a senior official said.
Erdogan had earlier said he did not know the whereabouts of Akar, and Prime Minister Yildirim had appointedGeneral Umit Dundar, the commander of the First Army, as the acting chief of military staff to cover Akar
