Video: Military helicopter used by coup shot down in Ankara

Latest: Anadolu Agency: Military helicopter used by coup plotters shot down in outskirts of Ankara.

Turkish army F-16s launched air strikes on Saturday against tanks stationed by coup backers outside the presidential palace in Ankara, an official with the presidency said.

"Turkish F-16s have launched air strikes against tanks outside the presidential palace," the official said, adding that a military helicopter, which was involved in an attack against a Turkish satellite operator earlier, has been downed in the Golbasi district of Ankara.

Soldiers surrender on Bosphorus bridge

Dozens of soldiers backing the coup against the Turkish government on Saturday surrendered on the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul that they had held throughout the night, television pictures showed.

The soldiers, dressed in full camouflage, walked out from behind their tank holding their hands above their heads, NTV television showed. The state-run Anadolu news agency said 50 soldiers were arrested.

Pictures showed supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jubilantly jumping onto one of the tanks left behind by the departing soldiers, cheering, making victory signs and waving the Turkish flag.

Others sought to run across the bridge that had been closed all night, kicking the helmets and protective gear left behind by the rebel soldiers as they passed.

New acting army chief

Turkey on Saturday appointed a new acting army chief of staff after an attempted coup to topple the government, the prime minister said.

General Umit Dundar, commander of the First Army, has been appointed as acting chairman of chief of staff, Binali Yildirim said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said he did not know whereabouts of former army chief Hulusi Akar.

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