Turkey ordered the arrest of 295 serving military personnel on Friday, the prosecutor's office said, accusing them of links to the network of US-based Muslim cleric <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-trial-to-open-into-russian-ambassadors-2016-killing-188965">Fethullah Gulen</a>, who Ankara says orchestrated a 2016 attempted coup.

Those facing detention included three colonels, eight majors and 10 lieutenants, with around half of the suspects being in the army and the remainder in other military forces including the navy and air force, the statement said.

The prosecutor's office said police launched simultaneous arrest operations at 1:00 am&nbsp;(2200 GMT) under an investigation into pay phone calls between suspected Gulen operatives. It was not clear how many suspects have been detained so far.

About 250 people were killed in the failed putsch, in which Gulen, a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, has denied involvement. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.

More than 77,000 people have been jailed pending trial since the coup and widespread arrests are still routine. Authorities have suspended or sacked 150,000 civil servants and military personnel.

Turkey's Western allies have criticised the crackdown, with Erdogan's critics accusing him of using the putsch as a pretext to quash dissent. Turkish authorities say the measures are necessary to combat threats to national security. 
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Turkey ordered the arrest of 295 serving military personnel on Friday, the prosecutor's office said, accusing them of links to the network of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated a 2016 attempted coup.

Turkey ordered the arrest of 295 serving military personnel on Friday, the prosecutor's office said, accusing them of links to the network of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says orchestrated a 2016 attempted coup. Those facing detention included three colonels, eight majors and 10 lieutenants, with around half of the suspects being in the army and the remainder in other military forces including the navy and air force, the statement said. The prosecutor's office said police launched simultaneous arrest operations at 1:00 am (2200 GMT) under an investigation into pay phone calls between suspected Gulen operatives. It was not clear how many suspects have been detained so far. About 250 people were killed in the failed putsch, in which Gulen, a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, has denied involvement. Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. More than 77,000 people have been jailed pending trial since the coup and widespread arrests are still routine. Authorities have suspended or sacked 150,000 civil servants and military personnel. Turkey's Western allies have criticised the crackdown, with Erdogan's critics accusing him of using the putsch as a pretext to quash dissent. Turkish authorities say the measures are necessary to combat threats to national security.

Turkey orders 295 military personnel arrested over US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen links in 2016 coup attempt

Turkey on Wednesday warned the European Union that it will have to face consequences if it plans to halt the membership negotiations with Ankara. &nbsp;

Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman to the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said, &quot;If they resort to such ways, they will have to live with the results.&quot;

He told broadcaster A Haber that &quot;the threats by the EU to freeze accession talks did not have any basis.&quot;

Highlighting Ankara&#39;s frustration over the long stalemate, Erdogan said that Brussels should make the final decision on Turkey&#39;s application to join the bloc quickly.&nbsp;

&quot;Reassess it, but do not delay in reassessing it. Make your final decision,&quot; Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul, which was broadcast live on television.

The bloc had recently threatened to Ankara to reverse its post-coup crackdown on civil rights of risk an end to the accession talks. But the threats drew a sharp retort from Ankara.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
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Erdogan asked the bloc to speed up the accession talks and accept Turkey's application to join the bloc or face dire consequences

Turkey on Wednesday warned the European Union that it will have to face consequences if it plans to halt the membership negotiations with Ankara. Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman to the Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said, "If they resort to such ways, they will have to live with the results." He told broadcaster A Haber that "the threats by the EU to freeze accession talks did not have any basis." Highlighting Ankara's frustration over the long stalemate, Erdogan said that Brussels should make the final decision on Turkey's application to join the bloc quickly. "Reassess it, but do not delay in reassessing it. Make your final decision," Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul, which was broadcast live on television. The bloc had recently threatened to Ankara to reverse its post-coup crackdown on civil rights of risk an end to the accession talks. But the threats drew a sharp retort from Ankara. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Turkish President warns EU: Be ready to face consequences if accession talks halted

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Turkey orders 295 military personnel arrested over US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen links in 2016 coup attempt

Turkish President warns EU: Be ready to face consequences if accession talks halted