German lawyer: Erdogan lawsuits in Germany remain in place

The Pentagon is vehemently rejecting remarks by the Turkish president that the US military was siding with plotters of the failed military coup in Turkey.

Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik told broadcaster NTV on Friday that the shake-up in the military was not yet over, adding that military academies would now be a target of “cleansing”.

James Clapper, Director of US National Intelligence said that the purges were harmful in the fight against the Syrian Islamic State and Iraq.

Erdogan said he was unhappy with the information received from the MIT and its chief Hakan Fidan on the night of the coup, complaining that valuable time was lost.

The president has faced criticism over the scale of the crackdown in the aftermath of the coup, which has seen the arrest, removal and suspension of more than 70,000 people, according to the latest figures cited by the state-run Anadolu news agency, affecting workers in the judiciary, the education system, media, health care and other sectors.

During his speech at the presidential palace, Erdogan also announced that he was withdrawing, as a one-off gesture, all lawsuits filed against people for insulting him, a move he said was triggered by “feelings of unity against the coup attempt”.

Responsibility for military hospitals would be transferred to the Health Ministry, Erdogan said.

Twenty-one detained suspects Friday appeared in front of a judge in Istanbul to decide whether to remand them in custody.

Those held include the veteran journalist Nazli Ilicak as well as the former correspondent for the pro-Gulen Zaman daily Hanim Busra Erdal, it added. The dishonourable discharges included around 40 per cent of Turkey’s admirals and generals.

Among those freed was prominent commentator Bulent Mumay who was given a rapturous welcome by supporters.

“You are taking the side of coup plotters instead of thanking this state for defeating the coup attempt”, Erdogan said.

Earlier Saturday, an Istanbul court released 758 conscripted soldiers detained as part of the investigation into the failed coup. Turkey wants Washington to extradite Gulen, who was once a close ally of Erdogan and now an archfoe.

US Central Command (Centcom) has issued a statement on behalf of their commander, Gen. Joseph Votel, formally denying any involvement in the failed coup in Turkey earlier this month, saying any claims he had done so were “unfortunate and completely inaccurate”.