Turkish prime ministry suspends 257 personnel

By Hatice Ozdemir and Ertugrul Subasi

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s Prime Ministry suspended almost 260 personnel on Tuesday amid a nationwide move against those suspected of having links to Friday's military coup attempt which killed hundreds of people.

According to premiership sources, the 257 individuals include 230 clerks, six advisers and two legal advisers.

Suspensions have also taken place in other top institutions in the country.

In a separate operation in Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, 492 people were suspended from duty over Friday’s attempted coup.

The deadly coup attempt occurred late on July 15 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.

At least 208 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara and nearly 1,500 others wounded as they protested against the coup.

The government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through supporters within Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming the so-called parallel state.

*Burcu Arik contributed to this report from Istanbul.