UPDATE - Erdogan: We could not let minority dominate majority

*ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM ERDOGAN

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that last week’s failed coup tried unsuccessfully to make a minority dominate the country's majority.

Speaking in an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV late Wednesday, Erdogan reiterated it was a minority within the Turkish Armed Forces that carried out the deadly coup attempt.

"It is clear that they are in the minority. We could not have let minority dominate majority. We have taken all the steps necessary to prevent such an event," he said.

Erdogan said the coup plotters failed in their attempt to topple the government, adding that they might have some plans for their own fate.

"As long as we join hands and accompany the people, the tanks could do nothing," the president said.

July 15 attempted coup saw rogue elements of the military attack parliament, the presidential palace and other state institutions and led to the deaths of hundreds of people.

Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen and his movement are also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish state institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming a “parallel state.”

The president underlined that there is another superior mind above Fetullah Gulen's FETO terror organization.

In his remarks, Erdogan recalled that Turkey gave all evidence to the U.S. on Gulen extradition, and that now await a decision from the US side.

A total of 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred during the failed putsch, and nearly 1,500 others were wounded as they protested it.

Erdogan also mentioned the death penalty and said that it is parliament which will decide if the coup plotters are to be executed. "I said I will approve death penalty for coup plotters if parliament approves it," he added.

He told that he has never been anti-media but freedom of expression should never be a weapon.

After a question about the downing of a Russian fighter jet, Erdogan said: "Pilots who downed Russian jet in custody, being questioned about Gulenist ties"

Following the downing of a Russian fighter jet on Nov. 24 after it had violated Turkish air space despite multiple warnings from the Turkish military, relations between the two countries soured rapidly.

One of the jet's two pilots had been killed while the other was rescued by Russian forces.