Obama to voice support for Turkey in upcoming call

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Barack Obama will telephone Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “relatively soon”, the White House said Monday.

Obama intends to convey the U.S.’s strong support for Turkey’s “democratically elected civilian government and that country’s democratic institutions,” spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

Turkey’s interior ministry says 8,777 officials, including 30 governors, have been suspended in the wake of a failed coup attempt by rogue members of Turkey’s military.

More than 2,700 judges have also been suspended, according to Turkey’s top judicial board.

Earnest said that the U.S. “would not pass judgment” on Turkey’s efforts to round up those responsible, saying that Turkish official’s “concern is understandable.

“The United States government has made a commitment to the Turkish government, that if they would like assistance in investigating this failed coup over the weekend, we are prepared to use resources at our disposal to assist them in that investigation,” Earnest said.

“At the same time, we believe that the Turkish government has a responsibility -- the democratically elected Turkish government has a responsibility to exercise restraint, and certainly to be supportive of due process and the freedoms that are outlined in the Turkish Constitution,” he added.

More than 200 people were killed in Friday’s overnight coup attempt and nearly 1,500 were wounded.