Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the U.S. Friday and criticized a senior military commander who had expressed concerns that the violent July 15 coup could have longer-term impact on U.S. relations with the Turkish military.
Advertisement
The Government has said the coup was staged by a faction within the military loyal to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The Prime Minister was responding to comments made by US Central Command Commander Gen. Joseph Votel, who told the Aspen Security Forum meeting in Colorado on Thursday that he was concerned about the number of Turkish military commanders close to the US who had been put in jail as part of the purge.
“Instead of thanking this country which repelled a coup attempt, you take the side of the coup plotters”.
The president slammed the USA, claiming it was not standing firmly against the failed coup in which over 200 people died, as Turkey’s ties with key allies become strained.
“My people know who is behind this scheme… they know who the superior intelligence behind it is, and with these statements you are revealing yourselves, you are giving yourselves away”, he said. “We appreciate Turkey’s continuing cooperation and look forward to our future partnership in the counter-ISIL fight”.
“I have instructions from my government to follow up this matter and we will be very happy to obtain the support of Nigerian legislators on that issue”, he said. Ankara has also repeatedly demanded that the U.S. extradite Gulen to Turkey, while Washington has maintained that Turkey must first file a formal extradition request and provide solid proof of his involvement in the coup.
The attempted coup resulted in the death of about 300 people in the country.
Turkish officials have said they believe the coup plot was launched in haste because of the planned August military council meeting, when many officers suspected of links to Gulen would have been discharged. Pentagon officials said flight operations continued during the demonstrations.
As reported by Deutsche Welle, Germany’s global broadcaster, Turkey wants Germany to hand over alleged supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the man they accuse of being the mastermind behind the failed coup.
“This is a matter of national security for us in Turkey”. Dozens of media organizations – a lot of them also linked to Gulen – were ordered shuttered late Wednesday.
Advertisement
Numerous 10,000 detainees are locked up in horses’ stables and sports halls – some hogtied in horrific stress positions, according to human rights campaigners. “We are closing all the barracks in Ankara and Istanbul that sent out coup tanks (and) helicopters”.
