Days after his failed coup attempt, Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen for the first time in public on Wednesday (July 19).

A video going viral purportedly shows a man bearing resemblance to Prigozhin greeting the Wagner troops in Berlin, according to CNN.

“Welcome guys! I am happy to greet you all. Welcome to the Belarusian land! We fought with dignity! We have done a lot for Russia,” the&nbsp;man seeming like Prigozhin was quoted as saying in the video.

The clip was shared on pro-Wagner Telegram channels on Wednesday and then shared on Prigozhin’s account.

The video further shows a fighter purportedly addressing the man as “Yevgeny Viktorovich,” Prigozhin’s first name and patronymic.

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Yevgeny Prigozhin sighted! He says Wagner will "be here in Belarus for some time" before "gathering our strength and heading off for Africa." 
 
"We may return to [fight in Ukraine] when we will be certain that we won't be made to disgrace ourselves and our experience," he added. <a href="https://t.co/G4W2uWSjNC">pic.twitter.com/G4W2uWSjNC</a>
— max seddon (@maxseddon) <a href="https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1681657661828243457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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According to CNN, the video was unedited, and metadata on the file suggests that it was created on Wednesday at dawn.

But the outlet could not conclusively claim that the man was Prigozhin as the video appeared to be grainy and filmed in low light.

<h2>Gravitas: Where is the Wagner chief? Yevgeny Prigozhin disappears from the public eye</h2>

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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>'Wagner won’t participate in the Russia-Ukraine war'</h2>

While criticising the Russian Ministry of Defence, Prigozhin in the video said that his group would no longer participate in the Ukraine war and would instead “set off on a new journey to Africa.”

He further said that the group could return to Ukraine “when we will be confident that we will not be asked to make an embarrassment of ourselves and our experience.”

“What is happening now at the front is a disgrace in which we do not need to participate. We need to wait for the moment when we can prove ourselves fully,” Prigozhin said.

“Therefore, a decision was taken for us to station here in Belarus for some time. I am sure that during this time we will make the Belarusian army second greatest in the world. And if needed, we will defend them if it comes to it.”

“I want to ask everyone to really pay attention to the fact that Belarusians welcomed us not only as heroes, but also as brothers,” he added.

<h2>The failed coup attempt</h2>

On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials.

The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus.

Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter, and negotiated a peace deal between the two.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Days after his failed coup attempt, Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen for the first time in public on Wednesday (July 19). A video going viral purportedly shows a man bearing resemblance to Prigozhin greeting the Wagner troops in Berlin, according to CNN.

Days after his failed coup attempt, Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen for the first time in public on Wednesday (July 19). A video going viral purportedly shows a man bearing resemblance to Prigozhin greeting the Wagner troops in Berlin, according to CNN. “Welcome guys! I am happy to greet you all. Welcome to the Belarusian land! We fought with dignity! We have done a lot for Russia,” the man seeming like Prigozhin was quoted as saying in the video. The clip was shared on pro-Wagner Telegram channels on Wednesday and then shared on Prigozhin’s account. The video further shows a fighter purportedly addressing the man as “Yevgeny Viktorovich,” Prigozhin’s first name and patronymic. Yevgeny Prigozhin sighted! He says Wagner will "be here in Belarus for some time" before "gathering our strength and heading off for Africa." "We may return to [fight in Ukraine] when we will be certain that we won't be made to disgrace ourselves and our experience," he added. pic.twitter.com/G4W2uWSjNC — max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2023 × According to CNN, the video was unedited, and metadata on the file suggests that it was created on Wednesday at dawn. But the outlet could not conclusively claim that the man was Prigozhin as the video appeared to be grainy and filmed in low light. Gravitas: Where is the Wagner chief? Yevgeny Prigozhin disappears from the public eye 'Wagner won’t participate in the Russia-Ukraine war' While criticising the Russian Ministry of Defence, Prigozhin in the video said that his group would no longer participate in the Ukraine war and would instead “set off on a new journey to Africa.” He further said that the group could return to Ukraine “when we will be confident that we will not be asked to make an embarrassment of ourselves and our experience.” “What is happening now at the front is a disgrace in which we do not need to participate. We need to wait for the moment when we can prove ourselves fully,” Prigozhin said. “Therefore, a decision was taken for us to station here in Belarus for some time. I am sure that during this time we will make the Belarusian army second greatest in the world. And if needed, we will defend them if it comes to it.” “I want to ask everyone to really pay attention to the fact that Belarusians welcomed us not only as heroes, but also as brothers,” he added. The failed coup attempt On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials. The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus. Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter, and negotiated a peace deal between the two. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin seen for first time in public since failed mutiny

President Tayyip Erdogan said the United States should look at its own actions if it wants the return of an American Christian pastor who has been jailed in Turkey for suspected links to a 2016 failed coup.

Erdogan made the comment in a live interview with broadcaster NTV.

Andrew Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades, was indicted on charges of helping the group that Ankara holds responsible for the failed coup against Erdogan. He faces up to 35 years in prison. Brunson denies the charges.

Erdogan has previously linked Brunson's fate to that of the cleric Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric Turkey blames for the coup attempt. Gulen has lived in the United States since 1999 and denies the charges. Turkey is seeking his extradition from the United States.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and dozens of US&nbspsenators have urged Erdogan to release Brunson.

President Tayyip Erdogan said the United States should look at its own actions if it wants the return of an American Christian pastor who has been jailed in Turkey for suspected links to a 2016 failed coup

President Tayyip Erdogan said the United States should look at its own actions if it wants the return of an American Christian pastor who has been jailed in Turkey for suspected links to a 2016 failed coup. Erdogan made the comment in a live interview with broadcaster NTV. Andrew Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades, was indicted on charges of helping the group that Ankara holds responsible for the failed coup against Erdogan. He faces up to 35 years in prison. Brunson denies the charges. Erdogan has previously linked Brunson's fate to that of the cleric Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric Turkey blames for the coup attempt. Gulen has lived in the United States since 1999 and denies the charges. Turkey is seeking his extradition from the United States. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and dozens of US&nbspsenators have urged Erdogan to release Brunson.

Turkey's Erdogan says US should look at its own actions if it wants jailed pastor freed

Amnesty International today accused Turkey of implementing &quot;arbitrary dismissals&quot; of public sector workers in a series of purges since last year&#39;s failed coup.

Over 100,000 people from the public sector including members of the judiciary and armed forces have been dismissed since the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July, the rights group said.

They have all been dismissed by decree under the state of emergency put into force a few days after the failed putsch bid.

The emergency has been renewed three times and is due to expire on July 19. But Erdogan yesterday said it would continue until there was peace, without giving a time limit.

In a report entitled &quot;No end in sight&quot;, Amnesty criticised the dismissals which it said were &quot;carried out arbitrarily on the basis of vague and generalised grounds of &#39;connection to terrorist organisations&#39;&quot;.

The organisation urged the government to put in place a &quot;prompt and effective appeal mechanism for those already dismissed&quot;.

The dismissed public sector officials Amnesty spoke to described a lack of evidence presented to them after finding their names on a list published in the Official Gazette.

&quot;None... Have been provided with any explanation of the reason for their dismissal beyond the generalised allegation contained in the decrees,&quot; Amnesty wrote.

The organisation conducted 61 interviews including with 33 dismissed individuals and met Turkish authorities, trade union representatives, NGOs and lawyers.

The government insists that those dismissed have access to an appeals commission -- whose members were confirmed last week -- which will hear their cases.

But Amnesty said the commission was not an &quot;effective domestic remedy&quot;, and urged the Turkish government to establish a &quot;genuinely independent, impartial, transparent and effective appeal mechanism&quot;.

It criticised the position many found themselves in with limited -- if any -- ability to find work and their passports cancelled. &quot;Some of the measures, including the barring of individuals from all forms of public service and the routine cancellation of passports would violate rights even in the cases where dismissal was justified,&quot; the report said.

According to Amnesty, of those dismissed more than 33,000 are teachers and other employees of the education ministry while over 24,000 are police officers and others from the interior ministry.

Over 8,000 are members of the armed forces, more than 5,000 are academics and include those working in the higher education sector as well as over 4,000 judges, prosecutors and justice ministry officials, it added.

As well as sackings, more than 47,000 have been arrested over alleged links to the movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of ordering the failed coup.

Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, strongly denies the charges but Turkey alleges his group is a terror group which it dubs the &quot;Fethullah Terror Organisation&quot; (FETO).

Although Western governments and human rights activists have hit out at the crackdown, Ankara defends the purges as necessary to clear individuals with alleged malicious intent inside the public sector.

&nbsp;

Trouble in the USA

Amnesty International&#39;s report comes days after video surfaced of Edrogan&#39;s bodyguards assaulting peaceful Kurdish protesters in Washington, DC, outside the Turkish embassy.

In one video, Erdogan is sitting in the back seat of this black Mercedes, and watches as his guards beat up the protesters. Some have claimed that the order to assault the protesters came from Erdogan himself.

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Footage captured from another angle reveals Erdogan orders the attack on peaceful DC protesters directly (at 0:13). <a href="https://t.co/xegB7vEmM8">pic.twitter.com/xegB7vEmM8</a>
&mdash; Turkey Untold (@TurkeyUntold) <a href="https://twitter.com/TurkeyUntold/status/865304412499173376">May 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

Over 100,000 people from Turkey's public sector, including members of the judiciary and armed forces, have been dismissed since the failed coup in 2016

Amnesty International today accused Turkey of implementing "arbitrary dismissals" of public sector workers in a series of purges since last year's failed coup. Over 100,000 people from the public sector including members of the judiciary and armed forces have been dismissed since the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July, the rights group said. They have all been dismissed by decree under the state of emergency put into force a few days after the failed putsch bid. The emergency has been renewed three times and is due to expire on July 19. But Erdogan yesterday said it would continue until there was peace, without giving a time limit. In a report entitled "No end in sight", Amnesty criticised the dismissals which it said were "carried out arbitrarily on the basis of vague and generalised grounds of 'connection to terrorist organisations'". The organisation urged the government to put in place a "prompt and effective appeal mechanism for those already dismissed". The dismissed public sector officials Amnesty spoke to described a lack of evidence presented to them after finding their names on a list published in the Official Gazette. "None... Have been provided with any explanation of the reason for their dismissal beyond the generalised allegation contained in the decrees," Amnesty wrote. The organisation conducted 61 interviews including with 33 dismissed individuals and met Turkish authorities, trade union representatives, NGOs and lawyers. The government insists that those dismissed have access to an appeals commission -- whose members were confirmed last week -- which will hear their cases. But Amnesty said the commission was not an "effective domestic remedy", and urged the Turkish government to establish a "genuinely independent, impartial, transparent and effective appeal mechanism". It criticised the position many found themselves in with limited -- if any -- ability to find work and their passports cancelled. "Some of the measures, including the barring of individuals from all forms of public service and the routine cancellation of passports would violate rights even in the cases where dismissal was justified," the report said. According to Amnesty, of those dismissed more than 33,000 are teachers and other employees of the education ministry while over 24,000 are police officers and others from the interior ministry. Over 8,000 are members of the armed forces, more than 5,000 are academics and include those working in the higher education sector as well as over 4,000 judges, prosecutors and justice ministry officials, it added. As well as sackings, more than 47,000 have been arrested over alleged links to the movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of ordering the failed coup. Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, strongly denies the charges but Turkey alleges his group is a terror group which it dubs the "Fethullah Terror Organisation" (FETO). Although Western governments and human rights activists have hit out at the crackdown, Ankara defends the purges as necessary to clear individuals with alleged malicious intent inside the public sector. Trouble in the USA Amnesty International's report comes days after video surfaced of Edrogan's bodyguards assaulting peaceful Kurdish protesters in Washington, DC, outside the Turkish embassy. In one video, Erdogan is sitting in the back seat of this black Mercedes, and watches as his guards beat up the protesters. Some have claimed that the order to assault the protesters came from Erdogan himself. Footage captured from another angle reveals Erdogan orders the attack on peaceful DC protesters directly (at 0:13). pic.twitter.com/xegB7vEmM8 — Turkey Untold (@TurkeyUntold) May 18, 2017 × (WION with inputs from AFP)

Amnesty lambastes 'arbitrary dismissals' in Turkey purges

Greece on Thursday rejected the asylum claim of a Turkish military officer who fled after the failed coup of July 15. 
 
The Turkish officer&rsquo;s lawyer, Stavroula Tomara, said that she would appeal against the rejection and request a re-examination for her other two clients. 
 
Tomara represents eight Turkish officers seeking asylum in Greece after landing a military helicopter in the northern city of Alexandroupoli in July, four days after Turkish army units attempted a government takeover. 
 
However, the decision will not lead to the immediate deportation of the officers, a government official told AFP. 
 
The two commanders, four captains and two sergeants have denied accusations of being involved in a failed coup. 
 
All of them are in police custody in Athens. 
 
Rights group Amnesty International has said it has &quot;credible evidence&quot; of the abuse and torture of people detained in post-coup arrests, AFP reported. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

The officer is among eight men who, according to Turkey, have been involved in a failed coup in Greece

Greece on Thursday rejected the asylum claim of a Turkish military officer who fled after the failed coup of July 15. The Turkish officer’s lawyer, Stavroula Tomara, said that she would appeal against the rejection and request a re-examination for her other two clients. Tomara represents eight Turkish officers seeking asylum in Greece after landing a military helicopter in the northern city of Alexandroupoli in July, four days after Turkish army units attempted a government takeover. However, the decision will not lead to the immediate deportation of the officers, a government official told AFP. The two commanders, four captains and two sergeants have denied accusations of being involved in a failed coup. All of them are in police custody in Athens. Rights group Amnesty International has said it has "credible evidence" of the abuse and torture of people detained in post-coup arrests, AFP reported. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Greece rejects asylum to Turkish 'coup' officer

Turkey has arrested 11 fugitive soldiers suspected of involvement in an attack on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s hotel during the night of the failed coup, the deputy prime minister said today. 
 
Erdogan was staying in the western seaside resort of Marmaris on July 15 but dashed to Istanbul just before the hotel came under attack from rebel soldiers determined to oust him from power. 
 
&quot;Eleven of them were captured in Ula,&quot; Deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus told a press conference after a cabinet meeting, referring to a town near Marmaris. He said one soldier was still at large. 
 
Erdogan earlier said his swift escape had saved him from being killed or taken hostage. An interior ministry official, who declined to be named, described the arrested men as members of a &quot;death squad&quot; and said the overnight operation to catch them followed a tip-off from local villagers. 
 
The soldiers had been hiding in the wild landscape above Marmaris since the military action, and the villagers spotted them while they were out boar-hunting. 
 
&quot;There was an exchange of fire during the operation,&quot; the official added. &quot;Drones and helicopters were used to pinpoint the location.&quot; 
 
Since the coup, Erdogan has launched a massive purge of Turkish institutions, especially the military, with more than 3,000 armed forces personnel dismissed. 
 
(AFP)

Erdogan earlier said his swift escape had saved him from being killed or taken hostage

Turkey has arrested 11 fugitive soldiers suspected of involvement in an attack on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hotel during the night of the failed coup, the deputy prime minister said today. Erdogan was staying in the western seaside resort of Marmaris on July 15 but dashed to Istanbul just before the hotel came under attack from rebel soldiers determined to oust him from power. "Eleven of them were captured in Ula," Deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus told a press conference after a cabinet meeting, referring to a town near Marmaris. He said one soldier was still at large. Erdogan earlier said his swift escape had saved him from being killed or taken hostage. An interior ministry official, who declined to be named, described the arrested men as members of a "death squad" and said the overnight operation to catch them followed a tip-off from local villagers. The soldiers had been hiding in the wild landscape above Marmaris since the military action, and the villagers spotted them while they were out boar-hunting. "There was an exchange of fire during the operation," the official added. "Drones and helicopters were used to pinpoint the location." Since the coup, Erdogan has launched a massive purge of Turkish institutions, especially the military, with more than 3,000 armed forces personnel dismissed. (AFP)

Turkey failed coup: 11 fugitive soldiers arrested over attack on Erdogan's hotel

The commander of US forces in the West Asia denied yesterday that he had any link to the military coup attempt in Turkey following accusations by the country&#39;s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 
 
&quot;Any reporting that I had anything to do with the recent unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey is unfortunate and completely inaccurate,&quot; general Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Turkey has been an extraordinary and vital partner in the region for many years. We appreciate Turkey&#39;s continuing cooperation and look forward to our future partnership in the counter-ISIL fight,&quot; Votel said, referring to the Islamic State group. 
 
Erdogan yesterday accused Votel of being on the side of Turkey&#39;s coup plotters after commenting that the country&#39;s turmoil could downgrade military cooperation with Washington. 
 
&quot;You are taking the side of coup plotters instead of thanking this state for defeating the coup attempt,&quot; Erdogan said in angry remarks at a military centre in Golbasi near Ankara, where air strikes left dozens dead during the failed putsch on July 15. 
 
According to US media reports, Votel had said the coup bid and subsequent round-up of dozens of generals could affect American military cooperation with Turkey. 
 
In particular, Votel reportedly suggested the US had lost key Turkish military interlocutors who are now in jail and accused of being behind the coup. 
 
&quot;Know your place!&quot; Erdogan told Votel, using one of his favorite expressions of anger. 
 
&quot;The coup plotter is already in your country, you are already feeding him,&quot; he said, referring to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who Ankara accuses of being the mastermind of the coup. 
 
Turkey is a key member of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria, with its Incirlik air base used as a launch hub for raids on the group. 
 
(AFP)

General Votel had suggested that Turkey's turmoil and its purge of dozens of generals could affect US military cooperation with the country

The commander of US forces in the West Asia denied yesterday that he had any link to the military coup attempt in Turkey following accusations by the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Any reporting that I had anything to do with the recent unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey is unfortunate and completely inaccurate," general Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, said in a statement. "Turkey has been an extraordinary and vital partner in the region for many years. We appreciate Turkey's continuing cooperation and look forward to our future partnership in the counter-ISIL fight," Votel said, referring to the Islamic State group. Erdogan yesterday accused Votel of being on the side of Turkey's coup plotters after commenting that the country's turmoil could downgrade military cooperation with Washington. "You are taking the side of coup plotters instead of thanking this state for defeating the coup attempt," Erdogan said in angry remarks at a military centre in Golbasi near Ankara, where air strikes left dozens dead during the failed putsch on July 15. According to US media reports, Votel had said the coup bid and subsequent round-up of dozens of generals could affect American military cooperation with Turkey. In particular, Votel reportedly suggested the US had lost key Turkish military interlocutors who are now in jail and accused of being behind the coup. "Know your place!" Erdogan told Votel, using one of his favorite expressions of anger. "The coup plotter is already in your country, you are already feeding him," he said, referring to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who Ankara accuses of being the mastermind of the coup. Turkey is a key member of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria, with its Incirlik air base used as a launch hub for raids on the group. (AFP)

US general denies link to Turkey's military coup

Turkey&#39;s prime minister warned yesterday that the crackdown following a failed coup was not over, as authorities issued arrest warrants for dozens of former newspaper staff. 
 
A senior minister also revealed that a major army shake-up had been planned just before the putsch - suggesting elements in the military made the dramatic move because they knew they were about to be purged. 
 
Since the attempted power grab on the night of July 15, more than 15,000 people have been detained and more than 8,000 of them remain in custody, according to the latest interior ministry figures. 
 
&quot;The investigation is continuing, there are people who are being searched for. There could be new apprehensions, arrests and detentions,&quot; Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Sky News, according to the network&#39;s translation of his remarks. 
 
&quot;The process is not completed yet,&quot; he said. 
 
In the attempted coup, renegade soldiers sought to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but were stopped by crowds of civilians and loyalist security forces. 
 
At least 270 people were killed on both sides. 
 
Turkey blames the botched putsch on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, who strongly denies the accusations and demands that the United States resist calls for his extradition. 
 
But Yildirim said Turkey was &quot;determined&quot; to secure his removal. 
 
&quot;We shared all the details with them and, from this point on, the task falls on the shoulders of the US government,&quot; the prime minister said. 
 
&#39;Planned purge&#39; 
 
Energy minister Berat Albayrak, who is Erdogan&#39;s son-in-law, said Turkish authorities had been planning a major purge of the military and other institutions to remove Gulen-linked elements ahead of the coup attempt. 
 
&quot;They were going to take really important steps to remove Gulenist officers and generals from the armed forces. We were already working on this,&quot; said Albayrak, who was with Erdogan on the coup night. 
 
Turkey yesterday issued arrest warrants for 47 former staff of the once pro-Gulen Zaman newspaper suspected of links to the reclusive cleric. 
 
An official who declined to be named said the swoop covered &quot;executives and some staff including columnists&quot;, describing Zaman as the &quot;flagship media organisation&quot; of the Gulen-led movement. 
 
In March, Zaman and its English-language sister newspaper Today&#39;s Zaman were taken over by state-appointed administrators and it has since taken a strongly pro-government line. 
 
Several former staff are believed to have since left Turkey. 
 
The official insisted the warrants were not related to what individual columnists had previously said or written. 
 
But &quot;prominent employees of Zaman are likely to have intimate knowledge of the Gulen network and as such could benefit the investigation&quot;, the official explained. 
 
Earlier in the week, Turkey issued another 42 arrest warrants for journalists, 16 of whom have so far been detained according to state-run news agency Anadolu. 
 
Military reshuffle 
 
A large-scale shake-up of the Turkish armed forces is expected to be announced when the country&#39;s Supreme Military Council meets on today. 
 
More than 10,000 soldiers and around half of the 358 generals serving in Turkey have been detained, leaving gaping holes in the command structure to be filled. 
 
Tens of thousands of Turkish civilians have lost their jobs since July 15. 
 
The first worker in the private financial sector to be affected is AK Investment&#39;s research director Mert Ulke, after the financial regulator cancelled his licence following his report on the failed coup. 
 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday expressed deep concern about the ongoing wave of arrests in Turkey following the putsch. 
 
The EU meanwhile appointed a new ambassador to Turkey and repeated warnings that Ankara must respect democracy and human rights for ties to prosper. 
 
(AFP)

Turkey's energy minister said authorities had been planning a major purge of the military and other institutions ahead of the coup attempt

Turkey's prime minister warned yesterday that the crackdown following a failed coup was not over, as authorities issued arrest warrants for dozens of former newspaper staff. A senior minister also revealed that a major army shake-up had been planned just before the putsch - suggesting elements in the military made the dramatic move because they knew they were about to be purged. Since the attempted power grab on the night of July 15, more than 15,000 people have been detained and more than 8,000 of them remain in custody, according to the latest interior ministry figures. "The investigation is continuing, there are people who are being searched for. There could be new apprehensions, arrests and detentions," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Sky News, according to the network's translation of his remarks. "The process is not completed yet," he said. In the attempted coup, renegade soldiers sought to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but were stopped by crowds of civilians and loyalist security forces. At least 270 people were killed on both sides. Turkey blames the botched putsch on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, who strongly denies the accusations and demands that the United States resist calls for his extradition. But Yildirim said Turkey was "determined" to secure his removal. "We shared all the details with them and, from this point on, the task falls on the shoulders of the US government," the prime minister said. 'Planned purge' Energy minister Berat Albayrak, who is Erdogan's son-in-law, said Turkish authorities had been planning a major purge of the military and other institutions to remove Gulen-linked elements ahead of the coup attempt. "They were going to take really important steps to remove Gulenist officers and generals from the armed forces. We were already working on this," said Albayrak, who was with Erdogan on the coup night. Turkey yesterday issued arrest warrants for 47 former staff of the once pro-Gulen Zaman newspaper suspected of links to the reclusive cleric. An official who declined to be named said the swoop covered "executives and some staff including columnists", describing Zaman as the "flagship media organisation" of the Gulen-led movement. In March, Zaman and its English-language sister newspaper Today's Zaman were taken over by state-appointed administrators and it has since taken a strongly pro-government line. Several former staff are believed to have since left Turkey. The official insisted the warrants were not related to what individual columnists had previously said or written. But "prominent employees of Zaman are likely to have intimate knowledge of the Gulen network and as such could benefit the investigation", the official explained. Earlier in the week, Turkey issued another 42 arrest warrants for journalists, 16 of whom have so far been detained according to state-run news agency Anadolu. Military reshuffle A large-scale shake-up of the Turkish armed forces is expected to be announced when the country's Supreme Military Council meets on today. More than 10,000 soldiers and around half of the 358 generals serving in Turkey have been detained, leaving gaping holes in the command structure to be filled. Tens of thousands of Turkish civilians have lost their jobs since July 15. The first worker in the private financial sector to be affected is AK Investment's research director Mert Ulke, after the financial regulator cancelled his licence following his report on the failed coup. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday expressed deep concern about the ongoing wave of arrests in Turkey following the putsch. The EU meanwhile appointed a new ambassador to Turkey and repeated warnings that Ankara must respect democracy and human rights for ties to prosper. (AFP)

Turkey PM warns post-coup crackdown not over

Turkey said yesterday it was discharging 149 generals and ordering the closure of dozens of media outlets in the next phase of its controversial crackdown in the wake of the failed coup. 
 
Eighty-seven land army generals, 30 air force generals, and 32 admirals - a total of 149 - were being dishonourably discharged from the military over their complicity in the coup bid, a Turkish official said, confirming a government decree published in the official gazette. 
 
In addition, 1,099 officers and 436 junior officers have also received a dishonourable discharge, the decree added. 
 
The discharge of the generals - most of whom are currently under arrest - comes a day ahead of a meeting of Turkey&#39;s Supreme Military Council which is expected to agree one of the most radical shake-ups of the armed forces in years. 
 
Meanwhile the closure was ordered of three news agencies, 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers, the official gazette added. 
 
It did not give the names of those media outlets to be closed but according to a list obtained by the CNN-Turk channel they include mainly provincial titles but also some well-known national media. 
 
These include the Cihan news agency, the pro-Kurdish IMC TV and the opposition daily newspaper Taraf. 
 
Also to be shut are the Zaman newspaper and its Today&#39;s Zaman English language sister publication which, like Cihan, were part of a holding linked to the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen until being put into state administration earlier this year. 
 
(AFP)

The country will dishonourably discharge 149 generals - most of whom are under arrest - over their complicity in the coup bid

Turkey said yesterday it was discharging 149 generals and ordering the closure of dozens of media outlets in the next phase of its controversial crackdown in the wake of the failed coup. Eighty-seven land army generals, 30 air force generals, and 32 admirals - a total of 149 - were being dishonourably discharged from the military over their complicity in the coup bid, a Turkish official said, confirming a government decree published in the official gazette. In addition, 1,099 officers and 436 junior officers have also received a dishonourable discharge, the decree added. The discharge of the generals - most of whom are currently under arrest - comes a day ahead of a meeting of Turkey's Supreme Military Council which is expected to agree one of the most radical shake-ups of the armed forces in years. Meanwhile the closure was ordered of three news agencies, 16 television stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers, the official gazette added. It did not give the names of those media outlets to be closed but according to a list obtained by the CNN-Turk channel they include mainly provincial titles but also some well-known national media. These include the Cihan news agency, the pro-Kurdish IMC TV and the opposition daily newspaper Taraf. Also to be shut are the Zaman newspaper and its Today's Zaman English language sister publication which, like Cihan, were part of a holding linked to the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen until being put into state administration earlier this year. (AFP)

Turkey discharges generals, shuts media outlets after coup

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