“And there is very strong suspicion for his involvement, for Gulen’s involvement, in this coup attempt”.
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He also says the conspiracy theory that Erdogan staged the coup is “nonsensical” and compared it to conspiracy theories that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were carried out by the USA government against its citizens.
Erdogan, an Islamist who has led Turkey as prime minister or president since 2003, has vowed to clean the “virus” responsible for the plot from all state institutions. The Council is chaired by the prime minister, and includes the defence minister and the chief of staff.
The numbers of people arrested, detained, questioned or removed from their posts is now in the tens of thousands and touch every aspect of government and public life.
He told supporters in Istanbul on Monday that “an important decision” would be announced after the security meeting, without specifying – fuelling fears that the government may impose even tougher security measures.
Many academics have been critical of Erdogan in the past.
Ozturk has denied the allegation, saying he neither planned nor directed the failed military coup, according to the Anadolu Agency.
He said the fact that some of members of parliament had not voted in favour of the state of emergency, despite the difficulties in the country, was “food for thought”, and showed the need for building consensus with opposition parties.
“The aim of the declaration of the state of emergency is to be able to take fast and effective steps against this threat against democracy, the rule of law and rights and freedoms of our citizens”, Erdogan said.
“This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms”, Erdogan said Wednesday after a meeting with Cabinet ministers and security advisers.
And the authorities acted swiftly – cancelling licences for radio and television stations said to be linked to the so-called Gulenists.
Around 1,400 people were wounded as soldiers commandeered tanks, attack helicopters and warplanes, strafing parliament and the intelligence headquarters and trying to seize the main airport and bridges in Istanbul. “The owners are the nation”, Erdogan said in the text message.
“It became clear to me that I had to move, it was no longer necessary for me to stay put”, he said. “I asked him how much fuel he had, and he told me he had enough to keep us airborne for three or four hours”, Erdogan said.
Erdogan landed after loyalist forces took back the airport control tower and secured the runway.
The Gulen movement would be treated as “another separatist terrorist organisation”, he said, drawing a parallel to Turkey’s fight against Kurdish militants over the past three decades.
“We will continue the fight. wherever they might be”.
In a hugely unusual move after the announcement, Erdogan read out the morning call to prayer through loudspeakers at a mosque inside his presidential complex, the pro-government Yeni Safak daily said.
He compared the Gulen movement to a malignant cancer in the body that could spread and return if not eliminated. “The Russians have their own interests, and they will make or break any development”.
“We need unity. and brotherhood now”, he said.
Turkish police are warning the two officers may be armed and have distributed their photos in hopes they can be captured.
“It is ridiculous, irresponsible and false to suggest I had anything to do with the horrific failed coup”, the cleric said in a statement on Tuesday, accusing Erdogan of going to “any length necessary to solidify his power and persecute his critics”.
The two allies cooperate in the USA -led war against the Islamic State group, with American military planes flying missions from Turkey’s Incirlik air base into neighboring Iraq and Syria.
Erdogan, meanwhile, indicated the government was considering reinstating the death penalty, a practice abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey’s bid to join the European Union.
Relatives of detained Turkish soldiers wait in front of the Istanbul Justice Palace.
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The lira fell to a record low after ratings agency Standard & Poor’s cut Turkey’s foreign currency credit rating, citing the fragmentation of the political landscape and saying it expected a period of heightened unpredictability.
