After Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey would consider a return of capital punishment, spokesman Steffen Seibert said such a move “would mean the end of European Union membership talks”.
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The EU commissioner dealing with Turkey’s long-stalled bid for membership of the bloc meanwhile said it appeared that the government had already prepared a list before the coup of people to be rounded up.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had on Sunday said Turkey would consider a return of capital punishment.
F-16 fighter jets have been patrolling the airspace over Istanbul and Ankara following the failed coup attempt, according to a source in the President Erdogan’s office.
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said the response to the failed coup attempt must be conducted within the rule of law and that the plotters and those who helped them must be tried in the courts.
With alarm bring expressed by Western allies over the scale of the legal crackdown, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim promised on Monday to bring plotters of a failed coup to account but “within the law”.
Reports indicated that in the weeks before Friday’s coup attempt, Erdogan had been planning to purge high-ranking officers who supported Gulen.
The EU’s foreign ministers are expected to issue a statement on the situation in Turkey later Monday.
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says rule of law must prevail in Turkey at a time the government is rounding up suspects. He has been charged with treason in his native country. The U.S.is waiting for Turkey to present a formal.
The Turkish government said Monday it detained 755 judges and prosecutors and 650 civilians as well as more than 6,100 members of security forces.
Kerry said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly assured him that the government will respect democracy and the law, and he warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will “measure” Turkey’s actions.
“The introduction of the death penalty would, of course, be absolutely unacceptable”, Mr Kurz said in an interview with Austrian newspaper Kurier.
“France has condemned the coup, you can’t accept the military taking power”, he said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.
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The state-run news agency, Anadolu, said Erdogan ordered the overnight patrol by F-16s. At least 294 people were killed and more than 1,400 wounded.
