Sinan Ulgen, of the Carnegie Europe think tank said the failure to shut down the communications networks, social media and private television stations undermined their attempt.
Erdogan contacted CNN Turk on his iPhone using FaceTime and ordered the presenter Nevsin Mengu to hold her own handset towards the camera, where he urged his supporters to take to the streets.
He gambled that troops would not massacre the civilians.
He said: ‘Let’s gather as a nation in the squares. I believe we will remove this occupation that has taken place within a short time. I am calling on our people now to come to the arenas and we will give them the necessary answer.’
At the time, tanks were rolling across the city.
Less than 20 minutes later, prime minister Binali Yildirim was tweeting furiously, denouncing the rebels while stressing the government remained in full control.
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