Attempted coup in Turkey: 290 killed, 6,000 arrested

The overall death toll for the weekend violence has risen to 290, the foreign ministry said. More than 100 of those were participating in the coup.

Today the Alexandroupolis first instance court will examine the 8 turkish military officers demand for being granted political asylum in Greece.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has told Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim the asylum requests of Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece on Saturday would be examined “quickly.” 

“We will continue to cleanse the virus from all state institutions, because this virus has spread. Unfortunately like a cancer, this virus has enveloped the state,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told mourners at a funeral in Istanbul for victims of the coup.

Mr Erdogan broke down in tears while speaking at the funeral of a close political ally, his campaign manager Erol Olcak, and his teenage son. He said he would take the country forward in “unity and solidarity”.

The president repeated an accusation that cleric Fethullah Gulen was behind the plot, and called for him to be extradited from the US. Mr Gulen strongly denies any involvement.

People are rallying in cities including Istanbul and Ankara, to show support for the government.
Mr Erdogan told a crowd that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty. He said: “In democracies, decisions are made based on what the people say. I think our government will speak with the opposition and come to a decision.

“We cannot delay this anymore because in this country, those who launch a coup will have to pay the price for it.”
Capital punishment was abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. Nobody has been executed in the country since 1984.

Among the latest arrests to be reported was the commander of Incirlik air base in the south used by US-led coalition jets for raids against the so-called Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Unnamed officials said Gen Bekir Ercan Van and 10 other soldiers had been detained for their role in the coup.

Also on Sunday, more than 50 senior soldiers were detained in the western province of Denizli, including the garrison commander.
Those arrested on Saturday were reported to include Gen Erdal Ozturk, commander of the Third Army; Gen Adem Huduti, commander of the Second Army; and Akin Ozturk, the former Chief of Air Staff.
One of Turkey’s most senior judges, Alparslan Altan, has also been taken into custody.