Turkish parliament administrators axed after coup bid

By Coskun Ergul

ANKARA (AA) – Three secretary general assistants in the Turkish parliament have been relieved of their duties following Friday's failed coup, a parliamentary source said Wednesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking with the media, the source told Anadolu Agency that Muhammet Bozdag, Kemal Kaya and Mustafa Tamirci were removed. Ismail Kurgulu, Korkut Turkyarar, Erbay Kucet were appointed as new assistants.

Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based 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 a ‘parallel state’.

At least 240 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.

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