UPDATE - Turkish officials mark 5th anniversary of 2016 defeated coup

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM OFFICIALS, CHANGES IN HEADLINE, DECK, BODY

By Yasemin Kalyoncuoglu, Abdullah Yasin Guler, Ahmet Sertan Usul and Isa Toprak

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish officials on Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, which left 251 killed and over 2,700 injured.

July 15, the day of the defeated coup, is now marked in Turkey as Democracy and National Unity Day as a national holiday.

Vice President Fuat Oktay on Twitter wished Allah's mercy on people who died while preventing "this disgraceful assault during the treacherous coup attempt on July 15," and shared a video honoring those killed during the night of the coup attempt.

Quoting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said: "We have not seen or recognized any earthly power above the nation's will, neither we will."

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu also issued a message, saying FETO's attempted coup "attacked the nation's will and democracy."

"… their dark plans failed before dawn, took a real blow with the development and determination to rebuild the future of our country," he added.

Soylu added that Turkey has a global voice in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles and is able to defend its international rights in various regions from the Eastern Mediterranean to Libya.

He underscored that Turkey, as a beacon of hope for the oppressed people of the world, is able to defend its rights against the attempted establishment of a new status quo on its southern border.

The Interior Ministry has carried out 135,916 operations since the defeated coup as part of the fight against FETO, he noted. While more than 312,000 suspects were arrested, some 99,000 of them were remanded, he added.

"That night, our nation protected its independence, future, the star and crescent flag and the homeland," said Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul.

Speaking at a program in the capital Ankara, Gul said the Turkish judiciary has fulfilled its responsibility. "Our nation and our veterans can rest assured, the judiciary not only ensures justice, but also gives the necessary punishment to these traitors according to the law,” he said. "History will never forget this honorable struggle of the Turkish judiciary against the putschists."

Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkey’s Justice and Development (AK) Party, in a tweet said FETO terrorists dressed in military uniforms, who drew guns against their own people, could not achieve their goals in the face of the nation's strong will and determination.

“We are faithfully devoted to the day when we protected national sovereignty and resisted the putschist occupation,” Celik said.

Ali Erbas, head of Turkey's top religious body Diyanet, in his message, said July 15 marks the day when the heroic Turkish nation stood up with unprecedented courage against traitors.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup. Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.