Turkish president in contact with German, NATO leaders

By Andac Hongur

ISTANBUL (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held separate phone conversations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday.

According to presidential sources who cannot be named for security reasons, Merkel told Erdogan that July 15's failed coup attempt was unacceptable and expressed Germany's support for Turkey's elected government.

Presidential sources added that Stoltenberg told Erdogan that there was no room for coups in a NATO-member country.

Erdogan also held separate phone conversations with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Both presidents harshly condemned the July 15 FETO (Fetullah Gulen terrorist organization) coup attempt and offered condolences to the families of those martyred.

Aliyev and Rouhani both expressed support for the elected government in Turkey.

On Friday night, rogue military elements attempted to overthrow Turkey’s democratically elected government by force. Over 200 people were martyred and more than 1,500 wounded in the ensuing violence.

Ninety-nine alleged plotters were remanded in custody in Ankara, on charges of establishing an armed terrorist organization, attempting to abolish the constitutional order and “intentional killing”.

A total of 8,777 personnel were dismissed from their duties, including 30 governors, 52 civil inspectors, and 16 legal advisers, the interior ministry has said.

More than 6,000 suspects have been arrested in connection with Friday’s coup attempt, including military figures and judges.

They are accused of having links to U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, who is said to have pursued a long-running campaign against the government through supporters within the Turkish state.

Gulen is the main suspect in two investigations launched into the attempted coup by Istanbul prosecutors, judicial sources told Anadolu Agency on Sunday on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Satuk Bugra Kutlugun contributed to this story from Ankara