Turkey coup attempt: Erdogan rounds up suspects

One of Turkey’s most senior military generals has been charged with treason and may face the death penalty following the failed military coup.

“Our commander of air staff, naval staff and the second Chief of General Staff were saved from the Akinci base where they were held and are in good condition”, Xinhua news agency quoted Isik as saying.

Yesterday Turkish authorities shut off access and power to an air base used by U.S. jets bombing Islamic State in Syria in a clear sign of escalating tensions.

Mr Erdogan‘s top military aide Col Ali Yazici is among those now in custody.

The Ankara Bar Association is expected to provide lawyers for the defense of the men during a scheduled appearance at a court in Ankara Monday.

President Erdogan has called on the USA to extradite Fethullah Gulen, 75, who heads the popular Hizmet movement and is said to count military chiefs and mid-level bureaucrats among his followers.

Aided by the power of his people, Erdogan and his forces managed to quash the coup attempt, which left at least 260 people dead and 1,440 injured.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders says Turkish authorities’ reaction to the failed coup needs to be “proportionate”.

President Tayyip Erdogan officially designated Gulen’s religious movement a terrorist group in May and said he would pursue its members.

News of the firings and detentions came as the US and European Union urged the government to uphold democracy and human rights as it pursues the military officers and anyone else involved in the coup attempt. Unnamed officials said Gen Bekir Ercan Van and 10 other soldiers had been detained for their role in the coup. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules. “This regressive step should be avoided, as should further restrictions on legitimate dissent”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is definitely grinning on the inside.

“We can not delay this anymore because in this country, those who launch a coup will have to pay the price for it”, he said in a funeral service for those death during the uprising.

“This right has to be evaluated by the appropriate authorities according to the constitution and a decision can be made”, Erdogan said in the address broadcast live on TV.

Ayrault said European Union ministers would reiterate on Monday when they meet in Brussels that Turkey – which has applied to join the bloc – must conform to Europe’s democratic principles. “My position on democracy is really clear”. He strongly denies the government’s charges.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was visiting Luxembourg, said earlier Saturday that the Obama administration would entertain an extradition request for Gulen.

Gulen in a statement denied any connection to Friday night’s coup attempt and even suggested the whole thing might have been orchestrated by Erdogan himself.

The military’s claim of a takeover was read on state broadcaster TRT.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines said it has cancelled 196 domestic and global flights in and out of Istanbul due to disruptions in air traffic brought on by the attempted coup.

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A polarizing figure whose Islamist-rooted ideology lies at odds with supporters of modern Turkey’s secular principles, Erdogan said the plotters had tried to attack him in the resort town of Marmaris. Ilhan Varank died during clashes that lasted five hours.