FM Retno Asks Indonesians Stranded in Istanbul Airport to Remain Calm

Jakarta, 11 Syawal 1437/16 July 2016 (MINA) – Following a coup attempt in Turkey, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi has called on 60 Indonesian nationals stranded in Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, to remain calm, Antara reported.

Marsudi called a representative of the stranded Indonesians, mostly tourists, and told them to remain calm and stay indoors, Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Body of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said here Saturday.

“The foreign minister has asked Indonesian nationals to not panic, remain calm and not to go out of the airport,” he stated.

She told them that the Indonesian consul general in Istanbul knew about their situation and would give necessary assistance when the airport is reopened, he noted.

Of the Indonesians stranded at the Istanbul airport, 48 are tourists joining travel tours.

Meanwhile, a coup attempt by an army faction in Turkey has been put down, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, after thousands of people heeded a call from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and took to the streets, Aljazeera reported.

A no-fly zone had been declared over the capital, Ankara, with the blame falling on followers of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, Yildirim told broadcaster NTV.

“The coup attempt has been foiled,” Turkeys national intelligence agency had earlier said in a statement. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)