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.