Coup Attempt Quashed In Turkey

Forces loyal to Turkey's president quashed a coup attempt in a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead Saturday. Authorities arrested thousands of people as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed those responsible ``will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey.''

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency says all soldiers involved in the attempted coup at the military headquarters in the capital, Ankara, have been taken into custody. The report says anti-terrorism police will now conduct a ``detailed search'' at the headquarters.

The news agency also says authorities have detained 10 members of Turkey's highest administrative court as the government appeared to press ahead with a purge of judiciary officials with alleged links to a U.S.-based Muslim cleric. Erdogan has long accused the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of trying to overthrow the government.

The Anadolu Agency said Saturday that arrest warrants were issued for 48 administrative court members and 140 members of Turkey's appeals court. Earlier, Anadolu said a body overseeing judges and prosecutors in Turkey has dismissed 2,745 judges across Turkey.

Turkish Prime Minister Benali Yildirim says 161 people were killed in the country's overnight military coup attempt. He says another more than 1,400 people were wounded in the chaos. More than 2,800 people have been detained.  (Associated Press)