Erdogan: Coup plotters will pay heavy price
2,839 military personnel detained in post-coup purge
◆ 265 KILLED IN CLASHES AS PEOPLE ANSWER PRESIDENT’S CALL TO TAKE TO THE STREETS ◆ GOVERNMENT ORDERS DETENTION OF 2,745 JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AFTER PUTSCH FAILS ◆ OBAMA URGES TURKEY’S LEADERS TO RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW
Turkish forces loyal to President Tayyip Erdogan largely crushed an attempted military coup yesterday after crowds answered his call to take to the streets in support of the government and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim called the insurrection “a stain in the history of democracy”. He raised the death toll in the clashes to 265, with 1,440 people wounded and 2,839 military personnel detained.
On Friday night, a faction of the army tried to seize power using tanks and attack helicopters. Some strafed the headquarters of intelligence and parliament in Ankara, and others seized a major bridge in Istanbul.
Many international flights to Turkey were cancelled yesterday despite efforts by the Ankara authorities to get life back to normal.
Erdogan accused the coup plotters of trying to kill him, and launched a purge of the armed forces, which last used force to stage a successful coup more than 30 years ago.
“They will pay a heavy price for this,” said Erdogan. He said parliament may discuss death penalty.
Yesterday, the government ordered 2,745 judges and prosecutors to be detained.
Erdogan said the “parallel structure” was behind the coup attempt, his shorthand for followers of Fethullah Gulen, a cleric whom he has repeatedly accused of trying to foment an uprising. He said the US should extradite Gulen.
Gulen, who lives in selfimposed exile in Pennsylvania, condemned the attempted coup and said he played no role in it. There is a possibility that the attempt could have been staged, he added.
World leaders expressed support for Turkey and its democratic institutions.
US President Barack Obama called on Turkey’s leaders to respect the rule of law. Obama stressed the “vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability.”
The UAE expressed its support for the stability and security of Turkey.