Turkey’s government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of USA -based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming a “parallel state”.
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WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama on Friday denied prior knowledge or involvement by the U.S.in last week’s failed coup attempt in Turkey, saying reports to the contrary are “unequivocally false”.
The rapid pace of arrests which Erdogan insists is targeting the supporters of USA -based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Meanwhile, the US military said that the power supply to the Incirlik air base in Turkey, which was cut off following the coup, had been reinstated.
Obama, who spoke with Erdogan by phone this week, said he told the Turkish leader he would have to go through the legal process.
“People demand the death penalty and that demand will surely be assessed”.
Opposition parties which stood with the authorities against the coup have expressed concern that the state of emergency could concentrate too much power in the hands of Erdogan, whose rivals have long accused him of suppressing free speech. “They know that Erdogan is the current symbol of Turkey’s political stability”.
He added that Turkey had been the victim of multiple terrorist attacks during this time and refrained until now from issuing a state of emergency.
Western countries backed Turkey’s government during last week’s failed putsch, but are increasingly anxious about Turkey’s subsequent crackdown against thousands of members of the security forces, judiciary, civil service and academia.
The decree by the Turkish President also extended the period of detention without charge for suspects to 30 days.
The ambassador deplored the fact that while the western media was projecting wrong figures, the truth of the matter is that a terrorist group had infiltrated the civil and military ranks that made a failed attempt to stage a coup which was foiled by the fearless people and the democratic leadership of Turkey.
President Barack Obama said Friday the U.S. would take seriously any “evidence” of wrongdoing by the preacher, whose followers, including alumni of his foundation’s schools, have long had a strong presence in Turkey’s police and civil service.
President Obama on Friday vehemently denied that the USA had any involvement in or prior knowledge of this month’s failed coup attempt in Turkey. Obama says he has worked to deepen the USA relationship with Mexico and that the two countries are not just strategic and economic partners, “we’re also neighbors and we’re friends”. State media estimate the total is nearing 60,000 people.
Turkish authorities on Friday announced a shake-up of the security forces one week after the botched coup attempt, as Ankara vowed not to seek revenge despite a growing crackdown. And Kilic would not say whether he thought the United States was. It said this was to facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Saban Kardas, president of the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) based in Ankara, criticized the western media coverage of the Fetullah Gulen terrorist organization’s coup attempt in Turkey.
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“This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms”, he said. Relatives said numerous teenagers thought they were going to take part in a training exercise.
