“The West is supporting terrorism and taking sides with coups”, Erdogan said, adding that forces unhappy with Turkey’s rise as a regional power were behind the coup.
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Erdogan, who has previously hinted at suspicions of foreign involvement in the July 15 coup attempt, also criticized “some Western countries” for urging people against visiting Turkey.
A German court had ruled Erdogan and other top Turkish officials were banned from appearing at the rally via satellite video, angering the pro-Erdogan crowd.
“They have actors inside [Turkey] but the scenario of this coup was written overseas”, Erdoğan noted. Turkey also cut off power for almost a week at Incrilik airbase after the coup, endangering U.S. Anti-ISIS operations and concerning senior U.S. policymakers.
He repeated a complaint that no foreign leader had visited Turkey since the failed coup on 15 July, which left more than 270 people dead.
FETO is considered a terror organisation by Turkey and Gulen is on Turkey’s most wanted terrorists list. “Unfortunately the West is supporting terrorism and stands by coup plotters”, he said in comments which were met with applause, and broadcast live.
Turkey’s Prime Minister has said ties between Ankara and Washington would be affected if the US did not hand over Gulen who has resided in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999.
“There are so many issues we can solve through dialogue”, Yildirim said.
In Ankara, police on Tuesday rounded up some 50 staff, including doctors, at Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) hospital, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, quoting police sources. The minister said the second letter explained why there was an urgent need for the arrest.
“He needs to be arrested urgently as we have intelligence that he might flee to a third country”, Bozdag added.
“I would like to say there has been too little understanding from Europe on what challenges this has caused to the democratic and state institutions of Turkey”.
Tens of thousands of people have been detained, dismissed or suspended from roles in the military, judiciary, civil service and education. Ankara has even called for the extradition of Gulen.
“Turkey came from the brink of a precipice”, Yildirim said.
“If we have mercy on those who carried out this coup attempt, we will be the ones to be pitied”, he said. During an interview on RAI News 24, Erdogan said Italy “should be handling the mafia instead”.
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Turkey implemented judicial reforms as part of its now-defunct bid to join the European Union, but worldwide legal experts have warned of increasing political interference in the courts.
