President defends post-coup crackdown

Turkey’s sweeping crackdown which saw thousands of judges and prosecutors detained after July’s failed coup was defended by the president who said it will help to implement real justice.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the detention of 3,495 judges and prosecutors so far “would not weaken the judiciary, quite the contrary I believe it will cause significant relief in the implementation of real justice.”

The Turkish government declared a state of emergency after the failed 15 July coup, which claimed at least 270 lives.

It also launched a massive crackdown against supporters of the movement led by Us-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara deemed responsible for the uprising.

However, Mr Gulen denies any involvement.

The minister of national defence has announced that 820 personnel were dishonourably discharged from the army and navy, of whom 648 were already under arrest.