Turkey coup attempt: Erdogan reasserts control

“No country can become an European Union member state if it introduces [the] death penalty”, Mogherini said on Monday. Thousands of police and military personnel have been taken off the job. Nearly 30 military generals and admirals were being questioned about their suspected role in the coup. Anadolu reported the group includes former Air Force commander Gen. The nationwide arrests and dismissals have unsettled a country that was already bitterly divided over what many describe as a years-long effort by the Turkish leader to cripple his rivals and weaken independent institutions.

When markets reopened on Monday, investors had taken some reassurance from the rapid collapse of the coup and swift moves by the government to insist that financial stability would not be compromised.

Turkish forces loyal to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan largely crushed the attempted military coup on Saturday after crowds answered his call to take to the streets in support of the government and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks.

Speaking at a funeral on Sunday held for some of those killed during gunfire – including the brother of his chief adviser, Mustafa Varank – Erdogan said he did not rule out bringing back the death penalty for the coup’s perpetrators.

It’s natural to wonder why the coup succeeded in Cairo, yet failed in Istanbul, given the resemblance of the democratic transition taking place in both countries.

“We know many people in the military are dissatisfied and were strongly opposed to President Erdogan, feeling he had become a virtual dictator and he had also purged a number of top people in the military”. Almost 300 people lost their lives in a night of chaos and confusion. There were reports that Erdogan supporters lynched to death some soldiers after they surrendered. He has locked up his rivals and seized control of an opposition newspaper.

“The leaders will have to come together and discuss it”.

Kerry noted specifically that Turkey, as a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally, had to live up to the values of democracy and rule of law which the US-led alliance is meant to protect and foster.

“We are the ones saying today rule of law has to be protected in the country”, she said in Brussels.

“This is no excuse to take the country away from fundamental rights and the rule of law, and we will be extremely vigilant on that”, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said at a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

The authorities have said around 6,000 people have been detained so far in the investigation into Friday’s coup which Erdogan has blamed on his arch enemy the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.

While they illustrated the deepening frustration with his government’s response to the failed coup, which has even included allegations by Turkish government ministers of USA complicity in the violence.

Referring to Gulen, Kerry called on Turkey to furnish evidence “that withstands scrutiny”, rather than allegations.

As he stated over the weekend, Kerry said the United States would consider a formal request but that it must meet USA legal standards. “If Turkey decides to submit an extradition request for anyone legally resident in the United States, it will be considered under the terms of the U.S. -Turkey extradition agreement”.