President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to wipe out the “virus” of the putschists after facing down the coup bid by elements of the military disgruntled with what they see as his increasingly iron-fisted 13-year rule.
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Erdogan has vowed to “clean all state institutions of the virus” of supporters of USA -based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for being behind the plot to overthrow the government.
Mogherini expressed concern about the possibility of other changes, noting that no country could join the European Union if it reintroduces the death penalty.
“We can not ignore this demand”, he told a chanting crowd outside his house in Istanbul late on Sunday.
Mr Erdogan even sent a nationwide text out asking people to stand up for democracy, a trick lost on the faction responsible.
Today Turkish security forces are launching fresh raids in a relentless crackdown against the suspect coup plotters. Gulen denied any connection with the coup.
They include former air force commander General Akin Ozturk, who has been described as the ringleader of the foiled uprising.
Thousands of soldiers have been arrested and hundreds of judiciary members removed since Friday’s uprising, which left at least 290 people dead and more than 1,400 injured in a chaotic night of violence.
The situation creates a sticky diplomatic situation – Turkey is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member and key Western ally in the fight against the Islamic State group, but the European Union and US expressed alarm Monday about its response to the coup. Turkey had already been hit by repeated suicide bombings over the past year and is struggling to contain an insurgency by Kurdish separatists.
Broadcaster NTV cited justice minister Bekir Bozdag as saying more arrests were expected. On Monday, according to Anadolu, prosecutors entered Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, which is key to the USA -led campaign against the Islamic State group. So far the lawyers say they have had no access to the men and will not be able to meet any new detainees rounded up as alleged coup plotters.
A second senior official also said the presidential jet had been “in trouble in the air” but gave no details.
“As we have been the first ones to say that in that tragic night [of the coup attempt], the democratic and legislative institutions needed to be protected”.
The coup attempt began Friday evening and, at one point, appeared to be on the verge of succeeding.
A boy is wrapped in a flag of the founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on Taksim square, following a failed coup attempt. It was not immediately clear if the incident was related to Friday’s failed coup attempt.
Turkey has detained some 6,000 people.
“We are broadcasting until the last minute, as we think it is important for Turkish democracy and the future of the country”, said CNN Turk anchor Basak Sengul, before being ushered out of the studio.
The crackdown intensifies a long-standing push by Erdogan to root out Gulen’s influence.
“We would be disappointed if our (American) friends told us to present proof even though members of the assassin organisation are trying to destroy an elected government under the directions of that person”, Yildirim said, referring to Gulen and his supporters in Turkey and overseas.
Kerry said the United States would entertain an extradition request for Gulen, but Turkey would have to present “legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny”.
Even before the coup attempt was over, Erdogan promised a purge of the armed forces.
Addressing the youths on the streets on Sunday, Erdogan said mutinous troops “will pay a heavy price for this”.
Some European politicians expressed unease. The figure before the coup attempt was 5 per cent.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Sunday questioned Turkey’s “reliability” in the fight against Islamic State in the wake of the abortive coup. “The lists are available, which indicates it was prepared and to be used at a certain stage”, Johannes Hahn said.
“He would strengthen his position domestically, but he would isolate himself internationally”, Oettinger, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Just like successful coups, failed coups can have a major impact on countries’ foreign and security policies.
He commands the admiration and loyalty of millions of Turks particularly for raising living standards and restoring order to an economy once beset by regular crises.
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Among the victims was also the elder brother of one of Erdogan’s chief advisers Ilhan Varank and photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz who were both killed by gunfire in the streets of Istanbul.
