The US Justice Department will dispatch a team to Turkey in coming days to pursue allegations by the Turkish government of criminal activity by Fethullah Gulen, Bloomberg news reported on Friday, citing an Obama administration official. 
 
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has demanded the United States extradite Gulen, a Turkish-born cleric who lives in Pennsylvania, accusing him of being behind a coup attempt last month. Gulen has denied the accusation. 
 
Meanwhile, the Turkish government is in talks with banks on ending financing to companies linked to the Muslim cleric, Deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek told broadcaster TRT Haber on Friday. 
 
Simsek, speaking live on the state broadcaster, said that while it was &quot;critical&quot; to stop financing of companies linked to Gulen, there were just a few hundred and the moves would not impact the economy.&nbsp; 
 
Erdogan has also blamed Gulen of playing a role in a series of recent bomb attacks in eastern Turkey blamed on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The team would pursue allegations by the Turkish government of criminal activity by Fethullah Gulen

The US Justice Department will dispatch a team to Turkey in coming days to pursue allegations by the Turkish government of criminal activity by Fethullah Gulen, Bloomberg news reported on Friday, citing an Obama administration official. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has demanded the United States extradite Gulen, a Turkish-born cleric who lives in Pennsylvania, accusing him of being behind a coup attempt last month. Gulen has denied the accusation. Meanwhile, the Turkish government is in talks with banks on ending financing to companies linked to the Muslim cleric, Deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek told broadcaster TRT Haber on Friday. Simsek, speaking live on the state broadcaster, said that while it was "critical" to stop financing of companies linked to Gulen, there were just a few hundred and the moves would not impact the economy. Erdogan has also blamed Gulen of playing a role in a series of recent bomb attacks in eastern Turkey blamed on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). (Reuters)

US justice department to send team to Turkey for Gulen probe: Bloomberg

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on the United States on Wednesday, to extradite US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he accuses of orchestrating the coup attempt against his rule - a claim the 75-year-old cleric denies. 
 
Addressing thousands of people gathered outside the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan said that Washington needed to make a choice. 
 
&quot;Sooner or later, the United States will make a choice. Either Turkey or FETO. They will either choose the putschist terrorist FETO or Turkey, the democratic country. They need to make a choice. We sent 85 boxes of files,&quot; he said, using an abbreviation standing for the &quot;Gulenist Terror Group&quot; which is how Ankara refers to Gulen&#39;s movement. 
 
The speech was billed as the culmination of nightly rallies in cities across Turkey to show solidarity since the attempted coup. 
 
Referring to bomb attacks and cross-border fire that killed 13 in southeast Turkey on Wednesday, Erdogan said that the country was facing multiple threats. 
&quot;We have again martyrs in Sirnak province. There were explosions in Mardin and Diyarbakir. When FETO leaves, PKK takes over the duty of treachery. When PKK leaves, Daesh (Arabic acronym for the Islamic State) takes over,&quot; he said. 
Turkey is dealing with the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, which killed more than 240 people and wounded 2,200. 
 
More than 60,000 people, including many in the military and police, have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation since the coup attempt, in which rogue soldiers commandeered tanks and warplanes to try to take power. 
 
The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984 and more than 40,000 people, mainly Kurds, have died in the violence. 
 
(Reuters)

He spoke of the threats Turkey is facing, referring to the recent bomb attacks and cross-border firing that killed 13 in southeast Turkey

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on the United States on Wednesday, to extradite US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he accuses of orchestrating the coup attempt against his rule - a claim the 75-year-old cleric denies. Addressing thousands of people gathered outside the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan said that Washington needed to make a choice. "Sooner or later, the United States will make a choice. Either Turkey or FETO. They will either choose the putschist terrorist FETO or Turkey, the democratic country. They need to make a choice. We sent 85 boxes of files," he said, using an abbreviation standing for the "Gulenist Terror Group" which is how Ankara refers to Gulen's movement. The speech was billed as the culmination of nightly rallies in cities across Turkey to show solidarity since the attempted coup. Referring to bomb attacks and cross-border fire that killed 13 in southeast Turkey on Wednesday, Erdogan said that the country was facing multiple threats. "We have again martyrs in Sirnak province. There were explosions in Mardin and Diyarbakir. When FETO leaves, PKK takes over the duty of treachery. When PKK leaves, Daesh (Arabic acronym for the Islamic State) takes over," he said. Turkey is dealing with the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, which killed more than 240 people and wounded 2,200. More than 60,000 people, including many in the military and police, have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation since the coup attempt, in which rogue soldiers commandeered tanks and warplanes to try to take power. The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984 and more than 40,000 people, mainly Kurds, have died in the violence. (Reuters)

Turkish President Erdogan tells US to choose between Gulen and democracy

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

The number of foreigners visiting Turkey plummeted more than 40 per cent in June, official data showed today, marking the biggest drop in at least 22 years as tensions with Russia and a series of deadly bombings kept tourists away. 
 
The decline is the latest in a string of bad news for the economy as political and security concerns erode foreign investor confidence. 
 
An attempted military coup this month has further bruised the outlook for Turkey&#39;s economy, once seen as a stand-out among emerging markets. 
 
Drop in tourism revenue could cost $8 billion 
 
Some economists have forecast that tourism revenue - a pillar of the economy - could drop by a quarter this year, costing around $8 billion, or the equivalent of 1 per cent of gross domestic product. 
 
The drop-off is also likely to continue. 
 
In late June, 45 people were killed in bomb and gun attacks at Istanbul&#39;s main airport, an attack authorities have blamed on Islamic State militants. This month, a faction of the military attempted to overthrow the government in an abortive putsch that left at least 246 people dead excluding the plotters. 
 
British travel company Thomas Cook today cut its full-year profit target, after the failed coup forced its customers to change holiday plans. Turkey&#39;s Aegean and Mediterranean resorts and beaches are traditionally popular with European holidaymakers. 
 
Tourist arrivals fell 40.86 per cent year-on-year in June, with 2.44 million people arriving during the month, data from the Tourism Ministry showed. It was the biggest drop on record, according to the data, which goes back to 1994. 
 
The previous record was set in May, when tourist arrivals fell 34.7 per cent. Tourism has been hit hard by tensions with Moscow after Turkey shot down a Russian jet over Syria last year. 
 
While Ankara and Moscow have recently started to rebuild ties, tourist arrivals from Russia dropped 87 per cent in the first six months of the year, the data showed. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

Coup bid this month further bruised outlook for Turkey's economy, once seen as a stand-out among emerging markets

The number of foreigners visiting Turkey plummeted more than 40 per cent in June, official data showed today, marking the biggest drop in at least 22 years as tensions with Russia and a series of deadly bombings kept tourists away. The decline is the latest in a string of bad news for the economy as political and security concerns erode foreign investor confidence. An attempted military coup this month has further bruised the outlook for Turkey's economy, once seen as a stand-out among emerging markets. Drop in tourism revenue could cost $8 billion Some economists have forecast that tourism revenue - a pillar of the economy - could drop by a quarter this year, costing around $8 billion, or the equivalent of 1 per cent of gross domestic product. The drop-off is also likely to continue. In late June, 45 people were killed in bomb and gun attacks at Istanbul's main airport, an attack authorities have blamed on Islamic State militants. This month, a faction of the military attempted to overthrow the government in an abortive putsch that left at least 246 people dead excluding the plotters. British travel company Thomas Cook today cut its full-year profit target, after the failed coup forced its customers to change holiday plans. Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean resorts and beaches are traditionally popular with European holidaymakers. Tourist arrivals fell 40.86 per cent year-on-year in June, with 2.44 million people arriving during the month, data from the Tourism Ministry showed. It was the biggest drop on record, according to the data, which goes back to 1994. The previous record was set in May, when tourist arrivals fell 34.7 per cent. Tourism has been hit hard by tensions with Moscow after Turkey shot down a Russian jet over Syria last year. While Ankara and Moscow have recently started to rebuild ties, tourist arrivals from Russia dropped 87 per cent in the first six months of the year, the data showed. (Reuters)

Turkey witnesses biggest drop in ?22 years in tourist arrivals?

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

Turkish authorities have detained more than 15,000 people, including more than 10,000 soldiers, following the July 15-16 failed coup attempt, broadcaster CNN Turk today cited interior minister Efkana Ala as saying. 
 
A total of 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial, the broadcaster cited Ala as saying. A faction of Turkey&#39;s armed forces attempted to overthrow the government this month, but their effort failed when thousands of supporters of President Tayyip Erdogan took to the streets to defy the putsch. 
 
(Reuters)

Interior minister Efkana Ala said 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial

Turkish authorities have detained more than 15,000 people, including more than 10,000 soldiers, following the July 15-16 failed coup attempt, broadcaster CNN Turk today cited interior minister Efkana Ala as saying. A total of 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial, the broadcaster cited Ala as saying. A faction of Turkey's armed forces attempted to overthrow the government this month, but their effort failed when thousands of supporters of President Tayyip Erdogan took to the streets to defy the putsch. (Reuters)

More than 15,000 detained over coup bid, says Turkey's interior minister

Turkish Airlines said today it had fired 211 employees over suspected links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and behaviour &quot;conflicting with the interest of our country&quot; in the wake of last week&#39;s coup. 
 
The flag carrier said their contracts were terminated due to &quot;the non-fulfillment of performance criteria and in line with the necessary actions we are taking against the FETO structure, attitudes and behaviour conflicting with the interest of our country and company&quot;. 
 
The authorities accuse 75-year-old Gulen of running a group it labels the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) that was behind the coup, and Ankara has demanded that Washington extradite him. 
 
The preacher, who lives in a secluded compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. 
 
In a statement signed by the airline&#39;s media relations unit, Turkish Airlines stressed that it stands &quot;united with all of the heroic and honourable Turkish people&quot; against the coup plotters&#39; &quot;malevolent illegal attempt&quot;. 
 
&quot;Under any circumstances, we have and will continue to fulfil our responsibility to contribute to democracy.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The state-run airlines suspects fired employees had links with US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen

Turkish Airlines said today it had fired 211 employees over suspected links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and behaviour "conflicting with the interest of our country" in the wake of last week's coup. The flag carrier said their contracts were terminated due to "the non-fulfillment of performance criteria and in line with the necessary actions we are taking against the FETO structure, attitudes and behaviour conflicting with the interest of our country and company". The authorities accuse 75-year-old Gulen of running a group it labels the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) that was behind the coup, and Ankara has demanded that Washington extradite him. The preacher, who lives in a secluded compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. In a statement signed by the airline's media relations unit, Turkish Airlines stressed that it stands "united with all of the heroic and honourable Turkish people" against the coup plotters' "malevolent illegal attempt". "Under any circumstances, we have and will continue to fulfil our responsibility to contribute to democracy." (AFP)

Turkish Airlines sacks 211 employees for 'involvement' in coup bid

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today that the risk of another coup had not disappeared, but said the government and other institutions were in control of the situation. 
 
One week after a faction of the Turkish military staged a brief but abortive coup, in which an estimated 246 people were killed, Yildirim also urged Turks to stay calm and said life had returned to normal, adding there was no room for complacency. 
 
&quot;The danger has not ended but our citizens should not be anxious,&quot; Yildirim told reporters, adding that Turkey&#39;s institutions were guided by the rule of law, not by any desire for revenge, in dealing with the aftermath of the failed coup. 
 
(Reuters)

Yildirim urged Turks to stay calm and said life had returned to normal, adding there was no room for complacency

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today that the risk of another coup had not disappeared, but said the government and other institutions were in control of the situation. One week after a faction of the Turkish military staged a brief but abortive coup, in which an estimated 246 people were killed, Yildirim also urged Turks to stay calm and said life had returned to normal, adding there was no room for complacency. "The danger has not ended but our citizens should not be anxious," Yildirim told reporters, adding that Turkey's institutions were guided by the rule of law, not by any desire for revenge, in dealing with the aftermath of the failed coup. (Reuters)

Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim says risk of second coup attempt not over

Eight Turkish military officers who fled last week&#39;s failed coup to Greece were moved to Athens today, a police source said, where authorities will examine their asylum pleas. 
 
&quot;They came to Athens this morning,&quot; the source said, without being able to confirm where the suspects are being held. 
 
&quot;I assume it&#39;s because their asylum cases will be examined here,&quot; the officer added. 
 
The eight men -- two commanders, four captains and two sergeants -- requested asylum in Greece after landing a military helicopter in the northern city of Alexandroupoli on Saturday. 
 
They were allowed to land after sending a distress signal to authorities, and claim they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey. 
 
A first ruling on the asylum applications is expected in early August. 
 
On Thursday, the Alexandroupoli court handed them suspended two-month prison sentences for illegally entering Greece. 
 
The sentences were suspended for a three-year period as the court took into account that the men felt threatened. 
 
In his defence, one of the Turkish officers told the court through a translator that he did not want to return home owing to &quot;indiscriminate&quot; arrests by Ankara authorities. 
 
&quot;We saw indiscriminate arrests of military personnel and we were afraid,&quot; the suspect said. 
 
The eight had been in police custody in the city of Kavala until today. 
 
The case threatens to strain ties between NATO allies Turkey and Greece, with Ankara labelling the eight &quot;terrorists&quot;. 
 
Turkey&#39;s ambassador has warned that failure to return the officers &quot;will not help&quot; ties. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

The case threatens to strain ties between NATO allies Turkey and Greece, with Ankara labeling the suspects 'terrorists'

Eight Turkish military officers who fled last week's failed coup to Greece were moved to Athens today, a police source said, where authorities will examine their asylum pleas. "They came to Athens this morning," the source said, without being able to confirm where the suspects are being held. "I assume it's because their asylum cases will be examined here," the officer added. The eight men -- two commanders, four captains and two sergeants -- requested asylum in Greece after landing a military helicopter in the northern city of Alexandroupoli on Saturday. They were allowed to land after sending a distress signal to authorities, and claim they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey. A first ruling on the asylum applications is expected in early August. On Thursday, the Alexandroupoli court handed them suspended two-month prison sentences for illegally entering Greece. The sentences were suspended for a three-year period as the court took into account that the men felt threatened. In his defence, one of the Turkish officers told the court through a translator that he did not want to return home owing to "indiscriminate" arrests by Ankara authorities. "We saw indiscriminate arrests of military personnel and we were afraid," the suspect said. The eight had been in police custody in the city of Kavala until today. The case threatens to strain ties between NATO allies Turkey and Greece, with Ankara labelling the eight "terrorists". Turkey's ambassador has warned that failure to return the officers "will not help" ties. (AFP)

Turkey failed coup suspects moved to Athens for asylum verdict

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim today warned against exacting revenge on supporters of the failed coup, as Ankara arrested top generals in a relentless crackdown that has sparked global alarm. 
 
&quot;One mistake cannot be corrected with another mistake. Turkey is a state with law. We are setting things right within the framework of the law. Those who committed wrong will face the Turkish justice system,&quot; Yildirim told reporters, speaking alongside Turkey&#39;s main opposition party leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. 
 
Yildirim said the country must avoid the risk that some people may try to exploit the current situation. 
 
Erdogan has denounced the coup bid, which left more than 300 dead on all sides, as a treacherous bid to oust him from power devised from the US compound of his arch-enemy, exiled Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. 
 
But with the authorities detaining over 7,500 so far in a massive legal crackdown and sacking almost 9,000, Turkey&#39;s EU and NATO allies have urged Ankara to keep the rule of law in place. 
 
Erdogan&#39;s suggestion that the death penalty could be reinstated has sent shudders through Europe and sparked warnings such a move would be the nail in the coffin of its already embattled bid to join the EU. 
 
An Ankara court on late Monday placed under arrest 26 former generals suspected of planning Friday&#39;s attempted power grab, including former air force chief General Akin Ozturk, whom some Turkish media have painted as the mastermind of the plot. 
 
The generals have now been put behind bars ahead of their trials, a date for which has not been sent. 
 
They have been charged with crimes including seeking to overturn the constitutional order, leading an armed group and seeking to assassinate the president. 
 
In his statement to prosecutors, Ozturk denied he was the coup ringleader. 
 
&quot;I am not the person who planned or led the coup. Who planned it and directed it, I do not know,&quot; state-run news agency Anadolu quoted him as saying. 
 
&#39;Betrayal of Turkish nation&#39; 
 
Turkey&#39;s treatment of the suspects has alarmed its allies especially after some were paraded before the media and shown being subjected to rough treatment. 
 
Anadolu published images of Ozturk and other suspects on the stairs inside the Ankara courthouse, staring blankly into the camera with their hands tied behind their backs. 
 
Ozturk has looked tired and haggard in images published by state media, with one of his ears heavily bandaged. 
 
Images have also emerged of government supporters physically attacking coup backers when they were detained. 
 
&quot;Nobody can have a feeling of revenge. This is unacceptable in a state governed by rule of law,&quot; Yildirim said after meeting secular opposition Republican People&#39;s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. 
 
The interior ministry said almost 9,000 people, including nearly 8,000 police but also municipal governors and other officials, had also been dismissed in a widening purge. 
 
Turkey has blamed Friday&#39;s events on supporters within the military of Gulen, who Ankara accused of running a group it dubs the &quot;Fetullahci Terror Organisation&quot; (FETO). 
 
Ankara has piled the pressure on Washington to extradite Gulen to face trial at home but US secretary of state John Kerry said Monday he wanted to see evidence and not allegations. 
 
Yildirim said Tuesday that Turkey had sent four dossiers to the United States over Gulen&#39;s alleged links to the overthrow plot. 
 
The reclusive cleric said in an interview with several media outlets including AFP at his compound in the US state of Pennsylvania that he has &quot;no concerns personally&quot; about the extradition request. 
 
&quot;The rule of law reigns supreme here. I don&#39;t believe this government will pay attention to anything that is not legally sound,&quot; he said. 
 
He called the putsch attempt &quot;treason, a betrayal of the Turkish nation.&quot; 
 
&#39;Cracking down not justice&#39; 
 
Turkey abolished the death penalty for all forms of crime in 2004 but the government now claims there is growing public pressure to reinstate it for the coup plotters. 
 
Erdogan told CNN in his first media interview since the coup bid that he would approve any decision by parliament to reintroduce capital punishment. 
 
&quot;There is a clear crime of treason,&quot; he said. 
 
But the EU -- which Turkey has for years tried to join in a stalled accession process -- warned of the consequences of such a move. 
 
&quot;No country can become an EU state if it introduces the death penalty,&quot; EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said. 
 
Amnesty International said it was alarmed by the widening crackdown. 
 
&quot;Cracking down on dissent and threatening to bring back the death penalty are not justice,&quot; said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty&#39;s director for Europe and Central Asia. 
 
Erdogan has remained in Istanbul ever since he dramatically flew back on Saturday to the city from the holiday resort of Marmaris where he was staying when the coup struck. 
 
It was unclear when he would be returning to the capital Ankara. Every night since the coup he has spoken to supporters in the Istanbul district of Kisikli, where he has a home, urging them to maintain a &quot;vigil&quot; for democracy. 
 
Erdogan told CNN his life had been in grave danger. &quot;If I stayed (in Marmaris) 10, 15 minutes more, I would either have been killed or kidnapped and taken away by them.&quot; 
 
Yildirim said 208 people were killed during the coup bid, including 145 civilians, 60 police and three loyalist soldiers. The military said 104 coup plotters were killed. 
 
In an intriguing twist, a Turkish official said two Turkish pilots who played a role in the downing of a Russian plane in November that led to a crisis in ties between Moscow and Ankara are in custody over the failed coup. 
 
(Agencies)

Turkish authorities have more than 7,500 suspects in custody. Turkey's EU and NATO allies have urged Ankara to keep the rule of law in place

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim today warned against exacting revenge on supporters of the failed coup, as Ankara arrested top generals in a relentless crackdown that has sparked global alarm. "One mistake cannot be corrected with another mistake. Turkey is a state with law. We are setting things right within the framework of the law. Those who committed wrong will face the Turkish justice system," Yildirim told reporters, speaking alongside Turkey's main opposition party leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Yildirim said the country must avoid the risk that some people may try to exploit the current situation. Erdogan has denounced the coup bid, which left more than 300 dead on all sides, as a treacherous bid to oust him from power devised from the US compound of his arch-enemy, exiled Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. But with the authorities detaining over 7,500 so far in a massive legal crackdown and sacking almost 9,000, Turkey's EU and NATO allies have urged Ankara to keep the rule of law in place. Erdogan's suggestion that the death penalty could be reinstated has sent shudders through Europe and sparked warnings such a move would be the nail in the coffin of its already embattled bid to join the EU. An Ankara court on late Monday placed under arrest 26 former generals suspected of planning Friday's attempted power grab, including former air force chief General Akin Ozturk, whom some Turkish media have painted as the mastermind of the plot. The generals have now been put behind bars ahead of their trials, a date for which has not been sent. They have been charged with crimes including seeking to overturn the constitutional order, leading an armed group and seeking to assassinate the president. In his statement to prosecutors, Ozturk denied he was the coup ringleader. "I am not the person who planned or led the coup. Who planned it and directed it, I do not know," state-run news agency Anadolu quoted him as saying. 'Betrayal of Turkish nation' Turkey's treatment of the suspects has alarmed its allies especially after some were paraded before the media and shown being subjected to rough treatment. Anadolu published images of Ozturk and other suspects on the stairs inside the Ankara courthouse, staring blankly into the camera with their hands tied behind their backs. Ozturk has looked tired and haggard in images published by state media, with one of his ears heavily bandaged. Images have also emerged of government supporters physically attacking coup backers when they were detained. "Nobody can have a feeling of revenge. This is unacceptable in a state governed by rule of law," Yildirim said after meeting secular opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The interior ministry said almost 9,000 people, including nearly 8,000 police but also municipal governors and other officials, had also been dismissed in a widening purge. Turkey has blamed Friday's events on supporters within the military of Gulen, who Ankara accused of running a group it dubs the "Fetullahci Terror Organisation" (FETO). Ankara has piled the pressure on Washington to extradite Gulen to face trial at home but US secretary of state John Kerry said Monday he wanted to see evidence and not allegations. Yildirim said Tuesday that Turkey had sent four dossiers to the United States over Gulen's alleged links to the overthrow plot. The reclusive cleric said in an interview with several media outlets including AFP at his compound in the US state of Pennsylvania that he has "no concerns personally" about the extradition request. "The rule of law reigns supreme here. I don't believe this government will pay attention to anything that is not legally sound," he said. He called the putsch attempt "treason, a betrayal of the Turkish nation." 'Cracking down not justice' Turkey abolished the death penalty for all forms of crime in 2004 but the government now claims there is growing public pressure to reinstate it for the coup plotters. Erdogan told CNN in his first media interview since the coup bid that he would approve any decision by parliament to reintroduce capital punishment. "There is a clear crime of treason," he said. But the EU -- which Turkey has for years tried to join in a stalled accession process -- warned of the consequences of such a move. "No country can become an EU state if it introduces the death penalty," EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said. Amnesty International said it was alarmed by the widening crackdown. "Cracking down on dissent and threatening to bring back the death penalty are not justice," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's director for Europe and Central Asia. Erdogan has remained in Istanbul ever since he dramatically flew back on Saturday to the city from the holiday resort of Marmaris where he was staying when the coup struck. It was unclear when he would be returning to the capital Ankara. Every night since the coup he has spoken to supporters in the Istanbul district of Kisikli, where he has a home, urging them to maintain a "vigil" for democracy. Erdogan told CNN his life had been in grave danger. "If I stayed (in Marmaris) 10, 15 minutes more, I would either have been killed or kidnapped and taken away by them." Yildirim said 208 people were killed during the coup bid, including 145 civilians, 60 police and three loyalist soldiers. The military said 104 coup plotters were killed. In an intriguing twist, a Turkish official said two Turkish pilots who played a role in the downing of a Russian plane in November that led to a crisis in ties between Moscow and Ankara are in custody over the failed coup. (Agencies)

Turkey jails generals as Erdogan vows to adhere to rule of law in coup plotters' prosecution

A special court hearing treason charges against former Pakistani president and army chief Pervez Musharraf ordered the seizure of his assets today after he failed to appear for a hearing in the capital Islamabad, media reported. 
 
Musharraf in March left Pakistan for Dubai to seek medical treatment, shortly after the country&#39;s top court lifted a ban on his travel. 
 
He is facing trial on treason and other charges related to his seizure of power as army chief in 1999 in a coup, the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and the killing of a prominent cleric in a military operation in Islamabad. 
 
A three-member bench of the special court hearing the cases passed orders to freeze his bank accounts and confiscate his property after Musharraf failed to appear for a hearing, media reported. There had also been a similar order in 2011 relating to the Bhutto case. 
 
Mazhar Alam Miankhel, chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, is presiding over the special court, which sits in Islamabad. He adjourned today&#39;s proceedings until Musharraf is arrested or surrenders. 
 
&quot;According to law, the accused cannot (go on trial) in absentia,&quot; Miankhel said, according to English daily Dawn newspaper. 
 
Dawn reported Musharraf&#39;s counsel argued the former president was in ill health and could not appear before the court in person. 
 
Musharraf seized power in 1999 in a bloodless coup against then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to office in a democratic election in 2013. Musharraf stood down as president in 2008 when threatened with impeachment by civilian political leaders. 
 
Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest elections, despite the possibility of arrest and death threats from the Taliban. 
 
Pakistan&#39;s military has ruled the South Asian nation for about half of its 69-year history. It currently sets foreign and security policy even though Sharif&#39;s civilian administration is in power. 
 
(Reuters)

Musharraf failed to appear for a hearing in Islamabad. He is facing trial for treason and other charges for a 1999 military coup

A special court hearing treason charges against former Pakistani president and army chief Pervez Musharraf ordered the seizure of his assets today after he failed to appear for a hearing in the capital Islamabad, media reported. Musharraf in March left Pakistan for Dubai to seek medical treatment, shortly after the country's top court lifted a ban on his travel. He is facing trial on treason and other charges related to his seizure of power as army chief in 1999 in a coup, the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and the killing of a prominent cleric in a military operation in Islamabad. A three-member bench of the special court hearing the cases passed orders to freeze his bank accounts and confiscate his property after Musharraf failed to appear for a hearing, media reported. There had also been a similar order in 2011 relating to the Bhutto case. Mazhar Alam Miankhel, chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, is presiding over the special court, which sits in Islamabad. He adjourned today's proceedings until Musharraf is arrested or surrenders. "According to law, the accused cannot (go on trial) in absentia," Miankhel said, according to English daily Dawn newspaper. Dawn reported Musharraf's counsel argued the former president was in ill health and could not appear before the court in person. Musharraf seized power in 1999 in a bloodless coup against then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to office in a democratic election in 2013. Musharraf stood down as president in 2008 when threatened with impeachment by civilian political leaders. Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest elections, despite the possibility of arrest and death threats from the Taliban. Pakistan's military has ruled the South Asian nation for about half of its 69-year history. It currently sets foreign and security policy even though Sharif's civilian administration is in power. (Reuters)

Pakistan court orders seizure of former president Pervez Musharraf's assets

Turkish security forces today carried out new raids against suspected plotters of the botched coup against the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as international concern grew over the scale of the crackdown. 
 
The authorities have said around 6,000 people have been detained so far in the investigation into Friday&#39;s coup which Erdogan has blamed on his arch enemy the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. 
 
Special Istanbul anti-terror police units raided the prestigious air force military academy in the city this morning in search of new suspects, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, authorities have also detained General Mehmet Disli, who conducted the operation to capture Turkey&#39;s chief of staff Hulusi Akar during the stand-off, a Turkish official said. 
 
Reports had said that a total of 36 generals had been detained so far. The Dogan agency reported today that 10 of them had now been remanded in custody by the courts. 
 
&#39;Vigil for democracy&#39; 
 
Erdogan has urged citizens to remain on the streets even after the defeat of the coup, in what the authorities describe as a &quot;vigil&quot; for democracy. 
 
New demonstrations of support were held throughout the country on Sunday night, AFP correspondents said. 
 
Thousands of pro-Erdogan supporters waving Turkish flags filled the main Kizilay Square in Ankara while similar scenes were seen in Taksim Square in Istanbul, AFP photographers said. 
 
According to Anadolu, 1,800 additional elite special police forces have been drafted in from surrounding provinces to ensure security in Istanbul. 
 
Eleven soldiers suspected of involvement in the coup were detained Sunday at Istanbul&#39;s Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side of the city in an operation that saw shots fired in the air, Turkish television reports said. 
 
Leaders including US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have urged Turkey to follow the rule of law in the wake of the coup. 
 
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also said today that the rule of law needed to be protected for the sake of the country. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

Special Istanbul anti-terror police units raided the prestigious air force military academy this morning in search of new suspects

Turkish security forces today carried out new raids against suspected plotters of the botched coup against the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as international concern grew over the scale of the crackdown. The authorities have said around 6,000 people have been detained so far in the investigation into Friday's coup which Erdogan has blamed on his arch enemy the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. Special Istanbul anti-terror police units raided the prestigious air force military academy in the city this morning in search of new suspects, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Meanwhile, authorities have also detained General Mehmet Disli, who conducted the operation to capture Turkey's chief of staff Hulusi Akar during the stand-off, a Turkish official said. Reports had said that a total of 36 generals had been detained so far. The Dogan agency reported today that 10 of them had now been remanded in custody by the courts. 'Vigil for democracy' Erdogan has urged citizens to remain on the streets even after the defeat of the coup, in what the authorities describe as a "vigil" for democracy. New demonstrations of support were held throughout the country on Sunday night, AFP correspondents said. Thousands of pro-Erdogan supporters waving Turkish flags filled the main Kizilay Square in Ankara while similar scenes were seen in Taksim Square in Istanbul, AFP photographers said. According to Anadolu, 1,800 additional elite special police forces have been drafted in from surrounding provinces to ensure security in Istanbul. Eleven soldiers suspected of involvement in the coup were detained Sunday at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side of the city in an operation that saw shots fired in the air, Turkish television reports said. Leaders including US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have urged Turkey to follow the rule of law in the wake of the coup. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also said today that the rule of law needed to be protected for the sake of the country. (AFP)

Turkey carries out new raids against suspected plotters

The swift rounding up of judges and others after a failed coup in Turkey indicated the government had prepared a list beforehand, the EU commissioner dealing with Turkey&#39;s membership bid, Johannes Hahn, said today.&nbsp; 
 
Following a failed coup attempt on Saturday, Turkish authorities on Sunday rounded up nearly 3,000 suspected military plotters, ranging from top commanders to foot soldiers, and the same number of judges and prosecutors. 
 
&quot;It looks at least as if something has been prepared. The lists are available, which indicates it was prepared and to be used at a certain stage,&quot; Hahn said. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m very concerned. It is exactly what we feared,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
&#39;Rule of law has to be protected&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday that&nbsp;Turkey must protect the rule of law as it cracks down after the failed coup. 
 
&quot;We are the ones saying today rule of law has to be protected in the country. There is no excuse for any steps that take the country away from that,&quot; Mogherini said as European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels. 
 
&quot;As we have been the first ones to say that in that tragic night (of Friday&#39;s coup attempt), the democratic and legislative institutions needed to be protected,&quot; she told reporters. 
 
&quot;Today we will say together with ministers that obviously doesn&#39;t mean that rule of law and the system of checks and balances in the country does not count. On the contrary, it needs to be protected for the sake of the country. 
 
&quot;So we will send a strong message on that.&quot; 
 
Turkey&#39;s attempts to join EU hobbled in recent years&nbsp; 
 
Would-be EU member Turkey carried out fresh raids today as the EU ministers were meeting, prompting growing international concern over the scale of the crackdown. 
 
Judges and military commanders are among 6,000 people who were arrested over the weekend as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vows to stamp out the &quot;virus&quot; of the coup plotters. 
 
Turkey&#39;s attempts to join the 28-nation European Union have been hobbled in recent years by concern over the increasingly authoritarian Erdogan&#39;s record on human rights and press freedom. 
 
But the EU agreed to speed up its membership bid and give visa-free travel to Turks as part of a migrant crisis deal in which Ankara agreed to take back people landing in the Greek islands. 
 
France, Belgium urge restraint&nbsp; 
 
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also insisted &quot;the rule of law must prevail&quot;. 
 
&quot;France has condemned the coup, you can&#39;t accept the military taking power,&quot; he said. &quot;At the same time we have to be vigilant that the Turkish authorities don&#39;t put in place a system which turns back democracy.&quot; 
 
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders also urged restraint, saying: &quot;It&#39;s normal to punish those involved in the coup, but it&#39;s normal to ask for respect for the rule of law.&quot; 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

The union urges restraint as the country cracks down heavily on people suspected of plotting the failed coup

The swift rounding up of judges and others after a failed coup in Turkey indicated the government had prepared a list beforehand, the EU commissioner dealing with Turkey's membership bid, Johannes Hahn, said today. Following a failed coup attempt on Saturday, Turkish authorities on Sunday rounded up nearly 3,000 suspected military plotters, ranging from top commanders to foot soldiers, and the same number of judges and prosecutors. "It looks at least as if something has been prepared. The lists are available, which indicates it was prepared and to be used at a certain stage," Hahn said. "I'm very concerned. It is exactly what we feared," he added. 'Rule of law has to be protected' Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday that Turkey must protect the rule of law as it cracks down after the failed coup. "We are the ones saying today rule of law has to be protected in the country. There is no excuse for any steps that take the country away from that," Mogherini said as European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels. "As we have been the first ones to say that in that tragic night (of Friday's coup attempt), the democratic and legislative institutions needed to be protected," she told reporters. "Today we will say together with ministers that obviously doesn't mean that rule of law and the system of checks and balances in the country does not count. On the contrary, it needs to be protected for the sake of the country. "So we will send a strong message on that." Turkey's attempts to join EU hobbled in recent years Would-be EU member Turkey carried out fresh raids today as the EU ministers were meeting, prompting growing international concern over the scale of the crackdown. Judges and military commanders are among 6,000 people who were arrested over the weekend as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vows to stamp out the "virus" of the coup plotters. Turkey's attempts to join the 28-nation European Union have been hobbled in recent years by concern over the increasingly authoritarian Erdogan's record on human rights and press freedom. But the EU agreed to speed up its membership bid and give visa-free travel to Turks as part of a migrant crisis deal in which Ankara agreed to take back people landing in the Greek islands. France, Belgium urge restraint French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also insisted "the rule of law must prevail". "France has condemned the coup, you can't accept the military taking power," he said. "At the same time we have to be vigilant that the Turkish authorities don't put in place a system which turns back democracy." Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders also urged restraint, saying: "It's normal to punish those involved in the coup, but it's normal to ask for respect for the rule of law." (Agencies)

Turkey government seemed to have list of arrests prepared: EU's Johannes Hahn

The United Nations Security Council failed on Saturday to condemn the violence and unrest in Turkey, after Egypt objected to a statement that called on all parties to &quot;respect the democratically elected government of Turkey,&quot; diplomats said. 
 
The US-drafted statement, seen by Reuters, also expressed grave concern over the situation in Turkey, urged the parties to show restraint, avoid any violence or bloodshed, and called for an urgent end to the crisis and return to rule of law. 
 
Statements by the 15-member Security Council have to be agreed by consensus. 
 
&quot;We proposed different language that respects democratic and constitutional principles, but the Americans refused to engage,&quot; Egypt&#39;s UN ambassador Amr Aboulatta told Reuters. 
 
?Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is a former general who overthrew elected President Mohamed Mursi, of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013 after mass protests against Mursi. Turkey provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. 
 
Diplomats said Egypt asked for a call for all parties to &quot;respect the democratically elected government of Turkey&quot; to be removed from the draft statement, saying the council is &quot;in no position to qualify, or label that government - or any other government for that matter - as democratically elected or not&quot;. 
 
After the United States and Britain objected to the proposed change to the text, Egypt proposed that the council call on the parties in Turkey to &quot;respect the democratic and constitutional principles and the rule of law,&quot; diplomats said. 
 
Negotiations on the text ended at this point, diplomats said. 
 
The Egyptian foreign ministry said that it was &quot;surprised that its proposed amendment was not taken up, and with the claim that it is obstructing the release of the statement.&quot; 
 
Turkish forces loyal to President Tayyip Erdogan largely crushed an attempted military coup on Saturday after crowds answered his call to take to the streets in support of the government and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks. 
 
(Reuters)

Egyptian diplomats said the UN council is in no position to qualify or label any government as democratically elected or not

The United Nations Security Council failed on Saturday to condemn the violence and unrest in Turkey, after Egypt objected to a statement that called on all parties to "respect the democratically elected government of Turkey," diplomats said. The US-drafted statement, seen by Reuters, also expressed grave concern over the situation in Turkey, urged the parties to show restraint, avoid any violence or bloodshed, and called for an urgent end to the crisis and return to rule of law. Statements by the 15-member Security Council have to be agreed by consensus. "We proposed different language that respects democratic and constitutional principles, but the Americans refused to engage," Egypt's UN ambassador Amr Aboulatta told Reuters. ?Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is a former general who overthrew elected President Mohamed Mursi, of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013 after mass protests against Mursi. Turkey provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Diplomats said Egypt asked for a call for all parties to "respect the democratically elected government of Turkey" to be removed from the draft statement, saying the council is "in no position to qualify, or label that government - or any other government for that matter - as democratically elected or not". After the United States and Britain objected to the proposed change to the text, Egypt proposed that the council call on the parties in Turkey to "respect the democratic and constitutional principles and the rule of law," diplomats said. Negotiations on the text ended at this point, diplomats said. The Egyptian foreign ministry said that it was "surprised that its proposed amendment was not taken up, and with the claim that it is obstructing the release of the statement." Turkish forces loyal to President Tayyip Erdogan largely crushed an attempted military coup on Saturday after crowds answered his call to take to the streets in support of the government and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks. (Reuters)

Egypt blocks UN call to respect 'democratically elected' government in Turkey

Posters begging Pakistan&#39;s powerful army chief to launch a coup appeared in major cities including the capital Islamabad overnight, raising eyebrows in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half its history. 
 
The posters, which also appeared in Lahore, Karachi and the garrison city of Rawalpindi as well as several army-run cantonment areas, were placed there by &#39;Move on Pakistan&#39;, a largely-unknown political party founded in 2013. 
 
&#39;Talk of leaving has become old, for God&#39;s sake come now&#39;, scream the posters, referring to General Raheel Sharif&#39;s decision to step down at the end of his tenure this year.&nbsp;They feature a large photograph of the mustachioed general.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Dictatorship is much better than this corrupt government,&quot; Ali Hashmi, chief organiser behind Move on Pakistan, said on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;The way General Raheel Sharif has dealt with terrorism and corruption, there is no guarantee that the next man would be as effective as him,&quot; he said. 
 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is said to be preparing to name a successor to the wildly popular general, who is no relation and whose three-year tenure expires in November. 
 
Widely credited with Pakistan&#39;s improved security situation, he is the frequent subject of hashtags such as #ThankYouRaheelSharif and #PakLovesGenRaheel.&nbsp;The Prime Minister and his government, in contrast, have been plagued by accusations of corruption and inefficiency. 
 
But, despite his popularity, the army chief&#39;s announcement in January that he would step down at the end of his tenure won him praise for respecting democratic institutions - unlike three of his predecessors. 
 
There was no immediate reaction to the posters from the federal government.&nbsp;The military denied it had anything to do with the posters. 
 
&#39;Reference Posters with #COAS pic being displayed across various cities; Army or any affiliated organisation have nothing to do with it&#39;, military spokesman Lieutenant Asim Bajwa tweeted on Tuesday night. 
 
Political analyst Hasan Askari said he did not foresee any threat to the current political system in Pakistan. &quot;There cannot be an organised movement unless there is a popular sentiment present,&quot; he said, dismissing the posters.&nbsp; 
 
Hashmi said that authorities in Islamabad and Punjab province, the Prime Minister&#39;s power base, had removed the posters - but that they continue to attract attention in other provinces.&nbsp; 
 
Military dictatorships have ruled Pakistan for more than half its 69-year history, and the armed forces are widely seen as controlling defence and foreign policy.&nbsp; 
 
Whoever takes over Raheel Sharif&#39;s role will face an array of daunting challenges, including keeping homegrown militants in check, vexed relations with India and the role Pakistan wants to play in promoting peace in Afghanistan.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

They ask army chief General Raheel Sharif, credited with cleaning up Pakistan's security situation, to take over

Posters begging Pakistan's powerful army chief to launch a coup appeared in major cities including the capital Islamabad overnight, raising eyebrows in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half its history. The posters, which also appeared in Lahore, Karachi and the garrison city of Rawalpindi as well as several army-run cantonment areas, were placed there by 'Move on Pakistan', a largely-unknown political party founded in 2013. 'Talk of leaving has become old, for God's sake come now', scream the posters, referring to General Raheel Sharif's decision to step down at the end of his tenure this year. They feature a large photograph of the mustachioed general. "Dictatorship is much better than this corrupt government," Ali Hashmi, chief organiser behind Move on Pakistan, said on Tuesday. "The way General Raheel Sharif has dealt with terrorism and corruption, there is no guarantee that the next man would be as effective as him," he said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is said to be preparing to name a successor to the wildly popular general, who is no relation and whose three-year tenure expires in November. Widely credited with Pakistan's improved security situation, he is the frequent subject of hashtags such as #ThankYouRaheelSharif and #PakLovesGenRaheel. The Prime Minister and his government, in contrast, have been plagued by accusations of corruption and inefficiency. But, despite his popularity, the army chief's announcement in January that he would step down at the end of his tenure won him praise for respecting democratic institutions - unlike three of his predecessors. There was no immediate reaction to the posters from the federal government. The military denied it had anything to do with the posters. 'Reference Posters with #COAS pic being displayed across various cities; Army or any affiliated organisation have nothing to do with it', military spokesman Lieutenant Asim Bajwa tweeted on Tuesday night. Political analyst Hasan Askari said he did not foresee any threat to the current political system in Pakistan. "There cannot be an organised movement unless there is a popular sentiment present," he said, dismissing the posters. Hashmi said that authorities in Islamabad and Punjab province, the Prime Minister's power base, had removed the posters - but that they continue to attract attention in other provinces. Military dictatorships have ruled Pakistan for more than half its 69-year history, and the armed forces are widely seen as controlling defence and foreign policy. Whoever takes over Raheel Sharif's role will face an array of daunting challenges, including keeping homegrown militants in check, vexed relations with India and the role Pakistan wants to play in promoting peace in Afghanistan. (AFP)

Pakistan flooded overnight with posters seeking military coup?

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