1.5 pct of military involved in failed coup: Gen. Staff

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) – A tiny minority, just 1.5 percent, of the Turkish Armed Forces took part in the failed July 15 coup that claimed hundreds of lives, announced the Turkish General Staff Wednesday.

"A total of 8,651 military personnel took part in the coup attempt of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on July 15.

"This figure amounts to 1.5 percent of the current number of Turkish Armed Forces personnel," said the General Staff’s Press and Public Relations Department in a statement.

It added that 35 planes, 37 helicopters, 74 tanks, and three ships were used during the failed coup.

A total of 1,676 non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and 1,214 military students, joined the coup attempt, it said.

The coup-plotters used 3,992 small arms during the attempt.

"To this very day, the Turkish Armed Forces possesses the power and determination to defeat any kind of threat that is directed at our state and nation," the statement said.

Turkey's government has said the deadly coup attempt, 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.

* Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.