Turkish PM warns against retaliation after failed coup

ANKARA — Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim yesterday warned against exacting revenge on supporters of the recent failed coup, as Ankara arrested top generals in a relentless crackdown that has sparked global alarm.

President Recep Tayyip 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 more than 7,500 people so far in a massive legal crackdown and sacking almost 9,000 people, Turkey’s European Union and NATO allies have urged Ankara to keep the rule of law in place.

Mr 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.

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.

“Nobody can have a feeling of revenge. This is unacceptable in a state governed by rule of law,” Mr 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.

State-run news agency Anadolu said yesterday that courts have ordered 85 generals and admirals jailed pending trial over their roles in the failed coup attempt. Dozens of others were still being questioned.

Those formally arrested include former air force commander General Akin Ozturk, alleged to be the ringleader of the July 15 uprising, and General Adem Hududi, commander of Turkey’s 2nd Army, which is charge of countering possible threats to Turkey from Syria, Iran and Iraq.

Gen Ozturk has denied the allegation, saying he neither planned nor directed the coup, according to Anadolu.

Turkey has blamed Friday’s events on supporters within the military of Mr Gulen, who Ankara accused of running a group it dubs the “Fetullahci Terror Organisation”.

Ankara has piled the pressure on Washington to extradite Mr Gulen to face trial at home, but United States Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday he wanted to see evidence and not allegations.

Mr Yildirim said yesterday that Turkey had sent four dossiers to the US over Mr Gulen’s alleged links to the overthrow plot.

The reclusive cleric said in an interview with several media outlets at his compound in the US state of Pennsylvania that he had “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”.

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.

Mr 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.

The EU — which Turkey has for years tried to join — warned against such a move. “No country can become an EU state if it introduces the death penalty,” EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said.

Mr Erdogan said yesterday that the National Security Council and Cabinet would meet today to make rulings that would initiate a new process for Turkey. AGENCIES