Generals, more journos detained
Defying international alarm, Turkey yesterday widened its crackdown after a failed coup, detaining top generals serving in Afghanistan as well as prominent journalists.
In a move apparently reflecting a shift in diplomatic strategy, Turkey also announced President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin next month after months of chill between the two countries.
Two senior Turkish generals serving in the Nato force in Afghanistan were detained at Dubai airport on suspicion of links to the attempt to overthrow Erdogan, an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The source named the pair as Major General Mehmet Cahit Bakir, the commander of Turkey's task force in Afghanistan, and Brigadier General Sener Topuc. The detentions followed cooperation between Turkish intelligence and UAE authorities, the state-run Anadolu news agency added, saying the pair were now being brought to Turkey.
The attempted putsch of July 15 has sent shockwaves through all aspects of life in Turkey. Some 13,000 people have been detained and over 9,000 of them remanded in custody ahead of trial over the coup.
Almost two thirds of Turks believe US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, a survey conducted by pollster Andy-Ar showed yesterday, backing the government line.
President Tayyip Erdogan says Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey, masterminded the plot, having long accused his former ally of building a network within the army, police, judiciary, civil service, education and media to control the state.
Veteran journalist Nazli Ilicak was detained yesterday at a traffic checkpoint in the southwestern region of Bodrum, a day after the authorities issued arrest warrants for over 42 reporters, Anadolu said.
According to the Dogan news agency, eight of the 42 have now been detained including Ilicak and the former pro-Gulen Zaman newspaper writer Hanim Busra Erdal, who was picked up in the western city of Manisa. Also held in the coup investigation was former governor of Istanbul Huseyin Avni Mutlu.
According to Anadolu, more than 47,000 civil servants have lost their jobs since the coup, including almost 43,000 in the state education sector. A major shake-up of the Turkish armed forces is expected to be announced tomorrow when the country's Supreme Military Council meets.
With 143 generals and more than 3,000 soldiers arrested on suspicion of links to the coup, there are gaping holes in the command structure which will have to be filled.
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