Turkish Armed Forces successfully foiled coup attempt, acting Chief of Staff says
AA PhotoActing Chief of Staff Ümit Dündar said on Saturday that the Turkish Armed Forces have immediately brought down the coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Organization.
Speaking in a press conference in Istanbul, newly appointed acting Chief of Staff Dündar said that the commanders seized by coup plotters have been taken to an unknown location and that coup attempt was largely by troops from the Turkish Air Forces.
”Turkey has shown the world its commitment to democracy,” Dündar said and added that the Turkish people who sided with democracy and rule of law thwarted the attempt, while saying those who took part in the betrayal will not go unpunished.
At least 1,563 army personnel were detained across Turkey on Saturday after a coup attempt, according to the Interior Ministry.
The ministry also suspended several parallel state military personnel including 5 generals and 29 colonels.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had earlier announced that a group within the Turkish military attempted an overthrow of the government.
In the moments after the attempted coup was launched Friday night, Erdoğan urged Turks in a televised message to “go to squares, let us give them the best answer.”
Arriving in Istanbul hours later, the president said he would not leave Atatürk Airport until the situation in the country returns to normal.
“Turkish Airlines began its operations. There is a small distress in Ankara,” Erdoğan told a large crowd gathered at the airport.
“There is no leaving here until this situation goes back to normal. I will not leave, too,” he said.
Erdoğan slammed United States-based preacher Fetullah Gülen, who is accused of leading a terrorist organization and attempting to infiltrate and overthrow the democratically-elected government.
“It is enough the betrayal you have done to this nation,” Erdoğan said, without mentioning Gülen’s name, and calling on him to return to Turkey to face trial.
At least 90 people were martyred and more than 1,000 others injured during the coup attempt.
Source:Sabah Daily