Turkey’s opposition warns against post-coup witch hunt

He said construction of the planned Akkuyu nuclear power plant project in Turkey was also on the agenda. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yi.

Since the failed coup Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others.

The detention of journalists and wide-scale purges of officials have raised concerns about a possible witch hunt by the government in the wake of the coup attempt that killed about 290 people.

Also detained in the sweep was Halis Hanci, an alleged senior aide to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen – the reclusive spiritual leader whom Turkey accuses of having orchestrated the plot to overthrow Erdogan.

Turkey’s army General Staff put the number of soldiers belonging to the Gulen network who took part in the coup attempt at 8,651, or about 1.5 percent of the armed forces, broadcaster NTV reported.

These are the grim conditions that numerous thousands who were arrested in Turkey face in the aftermath of a recent failed coup, witnesses tell Amnesty International.

Turkey has thanked Russian Federation for its solid support of its legitimate government during the abortive putsch. There were no party flags in sight; only red and white national flags were on display.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Kemal Kilicdaroglu also said the United States should extradite a US -based Muslim cleric whom the government accuses of being behind the failed July 15 uprising. Many pro-government media outlets, which often downplay or ignore opposition events, closely covered the demonstration.

On July 19, Turkey sent four files to the USA authorities regarding Gulen’s extradition.

Putin ordered the Russian government last month to begin lifting sanctions imposed on Turkey after Erdogan sent a letter offering “sympathy and profound condolences” to the family of the Russian pilot who died when Turkey shot down his plane during the November mission to bomb Islamic State militants in Syria. Associated Press writers Elena Becatoros and Cinar Kiper in Istanbul contributed.