Erdogan to drop all lawsuits for insults against him

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is dropping all lawsuits filed against people accused of “insulting” him, as a one-off gesture.

Erdogan spoke Friday night at an event in the Turkish capital, Ankara, commemorating those killed and wounded during a failed July 15 military coup.

“I take this opportunity to withdraw all the lawsuits, for this once, against those who showed disrespect to me and insulted me in every way”, Erdogan confirmed.

Hundreds of people have been charged with insulting the president, including on social media.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was inspired by the feelings of unity in the wake of the recent failed coup.

He said: “Some people give us advice”.

As the United States relationship with Ankara in tatters forcing Washington to imagine the implications of Turkey potentially abandoning North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, if the US isn’t forced to demand their eviction before that, US General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, rushed to Ankara on Friday to attempt to quell tensions. They say they are anxious.

“Those countries or leaders who are not anxious about Turkey’s democracy, the lives of our people, its future while being so anxious about the fate of the putschists can not be our friends”, he growled.

Replying on Friday after President Erdogan’s comments, Gen Votel said any reports that he was involved in the coup were “unfortunate and completely inaccurate”.

Mr Erdogan’s government is using powers under Turkey’s state of emergency to conduct a wide-ranging crackdown on alleged supporters of the exiled Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen, who lives in the US.

The Turkish president also stepped up his attack against the European Council and the European Union for their failure to visit Turkey to offer condolences, saying their criticism was “shameful”.

“We are going to make our armed forces stronger and we are going to work towards making this country more secure”, he said.

The Director of US National Intelligence, James Clapper, said the purges were hampering the fight against Isis by sweeping away Turkish officers who had worked closely with worldwide partners. Around 40% of generals and admirals have been discharged since the coup.

Both Yildirim and Erdogan were seen on television during the ceremony weeping as the July 15 victims were remembered.

“Instead of thanking this country which repelled a coup attempt, you take the side of the coup plotters”.

Turkey’s government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt was organized by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen’s followers and the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). “I am concerned about what the impact is on those relationships as we continue”.

Votel swiftly denied any link to the coup however.