Yildirim said 232 people were killed in Friday night’s violence, 208 of them civilians, police and loyalist soldiers, and a further 24 coup plotters.
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“We would be disappointed if our (American) friends told us to present proof even though members of the assassin organization are trying to destroy an elected government under the directions of that person”, Yildirim said.
The number of people who are now in custody has reached 7,500 – including 6,000 soldiers and 755 judges.
Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert told reporters that “the institution of the death penalty can only mean that such a country could not be a member”.
President Tayyip Erdogan has tightened his grip on power following the unsuccessful attempt to seize power, raising fears he will take advantage of the situation to further crack down on political opponents.
“We categorically reject the death penalty and an institution of the death penalty would mean an end to the negotiations to join the European Union”, he said.
But US Secretary of State John Kerry said Ankara would need to provide “evidence, not allegations” against Gulen.
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned the Turkish government on Monday against taking steps that would damage the constitutional order.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said he spoke to Erdogan, praised the Turkish people for showing “great courage”, but he also said it was essential for the alliance member to “ensure full respect for democracy and its institutions, the constitutional order, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms”.
Among Turkish journalists, who were already the subject of a backlash prior to the coup attempt, there were rumours of an imminent series of arrests.
“But while doing this we’ll keep within the boundaries of the rule of law”, he said.
A statement from European Union foreign ministers called for “the full observance of Turkey’s constitutional order”, but missing was any mention of the controversial refugee pact struck between Turkey and the European Union earlier this year.
Saudi Arabia detained Turkey’s military attache to Kuwait at Turkey’s request, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV said.
Gen Bekir Ercan Van, commander of Incirlik airbase from which U.S. aircraft launch air strikes on Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, and Erdogan’s chief military assistant were also detained.
Friday’s attempted coup in Turkey has turned what was expected to be a routine meeting of the European Council into crisis management.
The interior ministry said nearly 9,000 people, including nearly 8,000 police but also municipal governors and other officials, had also been dismissed in a widening purge.
Other media reports said police and military police officers and coast guards were also removed from duty.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday (17 July) that the country should reintroduce the death penalty without delay after last week’s attempted coup, which left 290 people dead and led to 6,000 arrests.
But the swift justice, including calls to reinstate the death penalty for plotters, drew concern from Western allies who said Ankara must uphold the rule of law in the country, a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member that is Washington’s most powerful Muslim ally.
They include former air force commander General Akin Ozturk, who has been described as the ringleader of the foiled uprising.
Eight Turkish military officers who fled to Greece by helicopter appeared in court in the Greek border city of Alexandropouli charged with entering the country illegally. They say that shortly after finding out about the coup, they came under fire from the police and feared for their lives.
Also among those detained were 103 generals and admirals, who were held across the country in what appears to be a major purge of the armed forces.
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News of the firings and detentions came as the US and European Union urged the government to uphold democracy and human rights as it pursues the military officers and anyone else involved in the coup attempt.
