Erdogan, a popular but polarising figure who has dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade, will chair an annual meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) on Thursday after vowing to restructure the armed forces following the coup.
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In a statement, the Turkish military said as many as 35 warplanes, 37 helicopters, 74 tanks and three navy vessels were used by the plotters in their failed coup attempt.
According to state media, among the most senior generals detained are former air force chief General Akin Ozturk and former Second Army Commander General Adem Huduti.
Erdogan has said his regime is now attempting to purge what he called the “virus” behind the uprising – which may include various government, military and media members. Of those discharged, 149 were either generals or admirals.
Some in Turkey, including government ministers, have referred time and again to USA involvement in the failed coup, despite vehement denial from Washington.
“The president said that… he would discuss with opposition parties bringing the General Staff and the MIT (intelligence agency) under the control of the presidency”, the parliamentary official said. The new trustee management has imposed a pro-government line. The US said it would weigh an extradition request on its merits. He cited intelligence reports suggesting that the 75-year-old preacher might flee his residence in rural Pennsylvania.
Erdogan and his supporters have accused Gulen of being behind the coup, a charge Gulen has vehemently denied. “We, as the Turkish government demand his return to face justice”, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote in an article published on Al Jazeera’s website on Tuesday.
On Wednesday alone, police arrested 50 journalists, all former employees of the newspaper Zaman, which Erdogan has tied to Gulen. Berlin has also expressed its concern over the series of purges in Turkey following the recent coup attempt.
Meanwhile, three news agencies, 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers were ordered to shut down, the country’s official gazette said Wednesday.
Speculations have arisen that both small, provincial media outlets and dailies with a national audience have been targeted. “This principle of proportionality must be respected under all circumstances”.
At least 178 generals have been detained – with 151 of them already remanded in custody – around one half of the 358 generals serving in Turkey. A state of emergency enacted after the coup attempt allows Turkey’s executive to issue decrees, which are then sent to parliament for approval. The military has ousted four governments in the past 60 years.
Turkish war academies, which offer university level education to prospective military officials, will also be affected by the new decree, expected to be issued on Thursday.
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Before the military council meeting, the prime minister and top brass visited the Ankara mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey’s founder, where they vowed to overcome all security threats.
