Baku, Azerbaijan, July 27
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Removing the supporters of Fethullah Gulen from the armed forces is a priority for Turkey, said the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus in an interview with TGRT TV channel.
He noted that reforms are expected in Turkish armed forces.
The Gendarmerie and Coast Guard will subordinate to the Interior Ministry as part of these reforms, added Kurtulmus.
“Protecting the country, but not planning military coups should be the purpose of Turkish armed forces,” said the deputy prime minister.
On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.
However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded.
Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.
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