UPDATE - More soldiers linked to Erdogan hotel attack detained

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAINED SOLDIERS

By Levent Kisi, Sabri Kesen

ANKARA (AA) – Four more soldiers allegedly involved in the attack on the hotel President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was staying at during the July 15 failed coup were detained in southwestern Turkey on Monday, security sources said.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency that Command Sergeant Majors Zekeriya Kuzu, Omer Faruk Gocmen, Abdulhamit Gulerden and Technical Sergeant Erkan Cikat were accused of being among the soldiers who attacked Erdogan's hotel in Marmaris, on the Mediterranean coast.

With these detentions, the number of detainees has increased to seven. Maj. Taner Berber and Sgts. Ilyas Yasar and Gokhan Guclu were detained right earlier.

An operation is still underway to capture other soldiers who attacked the hotel the night of the coup, narrowly missing the president, who had left for Istanbul.

So far, 25 soldiers have been remanded in custody for their alleged links to the Marmaris attack.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt on July 15, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

* Anadolu Agency correspondent Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.