Apparently responding to widening global alarm about the crackdown, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim admitted there may have been some unfair treatment in the state sector. This was not done only domestically
the scenario was written outside of Turkey..
Advertisement
In an address for foreign investors in Ankara which was broadcast by the TRT network, Mr Erdogan said: I have to say that this was done by foreign powers.
He said Turkey had previously also handed Germany a list of over 4,000 wanted militants without having any response.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported yesterday that the authorities have captured two more people suspected of being among soldiers who raided President Erdogan’s seaside hotel during the failed coup.
About 40 percent of Turkey’s generals and admirals have been dismissed since the coup, in which Erdogan says 237 people excluding the plotters were killed and more than 2,100 wounded.
Turkey’s justice minister sent a document to the United States Tuesday seeking the arrest of cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania and whom Ankara accuses of instigating an attempted coup on July 15.
Ankara accuses the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen of being behind the plot and has stepped up pressure on the USA authorities to extradite him back to Turkey. The minister said the second letter explained why there was an urgent need for the arrest.
The government has launched a sweeping crackdown on Gulen’s movement, which it characterizes as a terrorist organization and which runs schools, charities and businesses internationally.
Retaliating after a failed military attempt to unseat him, Erdogan has launched a purge that has seen tens of thousands of people suspended from their jobs and nearly 19,000 detained.
I hope that the United States decides in Turkey’s favour, in line with democracy and the rule of law, and returns this leader of a terror organisation to Turkey, he said.
Ahead of the meetings, USA joint staff spokesman Capt. Greg Hicks said Dunford would “deliver messages condemning in the strongest terms the recent coup attempt”.
In his palace speech, Erdogan said the military overhaul was necessary to prevent Gulenists attempting another coup.
“We shall never step back from our decision and give concessions”.
The decree, signed by President Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Isik, reportedly said 94 generals in land forces, 22 admirals, 44 generals in the air force and seven others have been reappointed.
The new wave of army expulsions and the overhaul of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) were announced in the official state gazette just hours after Erdogan said late on Saturday he planned to shut down existing military academies and put the armed forces under the command of the Defence Ministry.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, as the government continues its round-up of alleged plotters, arrest warrants for 100 staff – including doctors – at Ankara’s main military hospital, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, have been issued.
