Venezuelan deputy FM visits bombed Turkish parliament

ANKARA (AA) – Deputy Foreign Minister of Venezuela Samuel Moncada visited Thursday the Turkish parliament which was bombed during the July 15 defeated coup.

Moncada compared the attempted coup bids in 2002 and this year in Venezuela, recalling "The people of Venezuela flocked to the streets for three days and urged the soldiers involved and their supporters to leave."

The minister expressed solidarity with the Turkish government.

"We always stand shoulder to shoulder with you [Turkey]. There is no question about it," he said.

"The times of soldiers oppressing people are gone. The mission of soldiers, now, is to stand by its people and protect them."

Venezuela was among the first countries to condemn the attempt and show solidarity with Turkish democracy following the failed coup.

More than 240 people were martyred and around 2,200 others injured when a section of the armed forces tried to overthrow the government.

Turkey has accused the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, of organizing a long-running campaign to topple the state through the infiltration of institutions such as the military, police and judiciary.