Istanbul-Turkey is still witnessing the repercussions of last Friday’s failed military coup after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to launch a large campaign to cleanse the judiciary and the army and remove the cancerous tumor represented by the cell of Fethullah Gulen, his rival.
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Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that the failed military coup has left at least 290 people killed.
He also asked his supporters to stay on guard saying, “You should fill the squares”.
The authorities have said around 6,000 people have been detained so far in the investigation into Friday’s coup which Erdogan has blamed on his arch enemy the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.
However, reports say that considering Erdogan’s history, the latter seems less likely as each challenge to his power has seen him sidelining his enemies and becoming more autocratic in the handling of affairs.
European politicians, however, have warned Erdogan that the coup attempt can not be used as “carte blanche to do whatever he wants”.
The arrests include Gen. Bekir Ercan Van, commander of the Incirlik Air Base, according to the Turkish President’s office.
Turkey has said it is putting together an extradition request for the cleric.
The Pentagon also announced on Sunday that operations from Turkey by the US -led coalition against Islamic State had resumed after Ankara reopened its air space, which had been closed during the coup attempt. Kerry said the difficulty for USA planes using the base may have been a result of Turkish aircraft flown in support of the coup using it to refuel. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey, and Erdogan urged Washington to deport the cleric.
The crackdown appears to intensify a longstanding push by Erdogan to root out the influence of followers of Gulen.
Gulen said he would comply with any extradition ruling but was “not really worried” about one. The US government has said it would consider any formal request.
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They said coastal resorts other than Marmaris do not appear to be significantly affected. “There can not be purges, the rule of law must work”, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said. The French Foreign Minister told France 3 television that the country’s coup should not be used by Erdogan as a “blank check” to silence opponents.
