A lawyer says the eight Turkish military officers charged in Greece with illegal entry claim they initially knew nothing about Friday's coup attempt. The Greek government has said that it will examine their demand, as prescribed by international law, while taking into account that they are wanted in Turkey and accused of trying to subvert the constitution. A Turkish government official says the commander of an air base used by U.S.-led coalition jets that conduct bombing runs against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria has been detained. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge all state institutions of supporters of an Islamist cleric his government blames for Friday's failed coup attempt. Turkish Airlines says it has canceled 196 domestic and international flights in and out of Istanbul due to disruptions in air traffic brought on by Friday night's attempted coup. A statement from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said Putin said Moscow stood by "Turkey's elected government" and expressed his good wishes to the Turkish people. Turkey's justice minister says some 6,000 people have been detained in a government crackdown on alleged coup plotters and government opponents. Religious Affairs Directorate President Mehmet Görmez told private channel Ulke TV that as a nation who wasn't disturbed by the barrel of tanks pointed at the people or the sounds of F-16s flying overhead, I do not see anyone in this land who would be disturbed by the sound of sela. The Turkish government has accelerated its crackdown on alleged plotters of the botched coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, issuing dozens of arrest warrants for judges and prosecutors and detaining military officers. The government has also dismissed nearly 3,000 judges and prosecutors from their posts, while investigators were preparing court cases to send the conspirators to trial on charges of attempting to overthrow the government. The botched coup, which saw warplanes fly over key government installations and tanks roll up in major cities briefly, ended hours later when loyal government forces including military and police— regained control of the military and civilians took to the streets in support of Erdogan. Chanting, dancing and waving flags, tens of thousands of Turks marched through the streets into the wee to defend democracy and support the country's long-time leader after a failed military coup shocked the nation. Turkish security forces have rounded up 52 more military officers for alleged coup links and issued detention orders for 53 more judges and prosecutors, continuing the purge of judges seen as government opponents. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the perpetrators of Friday's failed coup "will receive every punishment they deserve," and the government said it would take steps toward extraditing a U.S.-based cleric it accused of fomenting the uprising. [...] the government crackdowns raised concerns over the future of democracy in Turkey, which has long prided itself on its democratic and secular traditions despite being in a region swept by conflict and extremism. In a dramatic iPhone interview broadcast on TV early Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged his supporters into the streets to confront the troops and tanks, and forces loyal to the government began reasserting control. Before the chaos, Turkey — a NATO member and key Western ally in the fight against the Islamic State group — had been wracked by political turmoil that critics blamed on Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian rule.
 |
| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.sfgate.com |