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Turkey coup attempt: Confusion over general's 'confession' Turkey coup attempt: General Akin Ozturk denies role in plot
(about 2 hours later)
There are conflicting reports about whether a former Turkish air force commander has confessed to planning Friday's attempted military coup. A former air force commander has denied being a ringleader of Friday's attempted military coup in Turkey.
At least 232 people died and 1,400 were wounded in the ensuing violence, and there have been mass arrests. Gen Akin Ozturk and 26 senior officers were charged with treason and remanded in custody by a court on Monday, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.
The state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Gen Akin Ozturk as telling interrogators he had "acted with intention to stage a coup". But in a statement to prosecutors, the general insisted: "I am not the person who planned or led the coup."
But two private broadcasters said the general had denied playing a role. Anadolu had earlier quoted him as telling interrogators that he had "acted with intention to stage a coup".
NTV quoted him as saying: "I am not someone who has planned or directed the coup attempt... I don't know who did." The government has blamed the unrest, which left at least 232 people dead and 1,400 wounded, on supporters of the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Anadolu said he was one of 112 generals and admirals who had been detained. Fifty had been remanded in custody pending trial, it added. Mr Gulen has any denied involvement and suggested the coup attempt might itself have been staged.
"I don't know who planned or directed it. According to my experiences, I think that the [Gulen movement] attempted this coup," Gen Ozturk was quoted as telling prosecutors by Anadolu before appearing in court in Ankara on Monday.
"But I cannot tell who within the armed forces organised and carried it out. I have no information. I have fought against this structure."
Anadolu said Gen Ozturk was one of 112 generals and admirals who had been detained since Friday. Fifty had been remanded in custody pending trial, it added.
The interior ministry also reportedly dismissed almost 9,000 police officers on Monday, as part of a purge of officials suspected of involvement.The interior ministry also reportedly dismissed almost 9,000 police officers on Monday, as part of a purge of officials suspected of involvement.
That followed the arrest of 6,000 military personnel and suspension of almost 3,000 judges over the weekend.That followed the arrest of 6,000 military personnel and suspension of almost 3,000 judges over the weekend.
Turkey's Western allies have expressed concern at the crackdown and urged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to respond in a measured way.Turkey's Western allies have expressed concern at the crackdown and urged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to respond in a measured way.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Mr Erdogan on Monday that Turkey's ambitions to join the European Union would be over if he carried through on a threat to reinstate the death penalty. In an interview with CNN broadcast on Monday evening, Mr Erdogan refused to rule out executing those convicted of treason, if the death penalty were to be restored.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the great courage of the Turkish people, but added that a valued ally had to ensure full respect for democracy. "'Why should I keep them and feed them in prisons, for years to come?' - that's what the people say," he said.
"They want a swift end to it, because people lost relatives, lost neighbours, lost children... they're suffering so the people are very sensitive and we have to act very sensibly and sensitively."
After a breakfast meeting in Brussels with US Secretary of State John Kerry, European Union foreign ministers warned that Turkey's ambitions to join the bloc would be over if the death penalty was reinstated.
"We need... to have Turkey respect democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms," EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini told a news conference.
Mr Kerry urged the Turkish government to "maintain calm and stability throughout the country", but also cautioned "against a reach that goes well beyond that and stress the importance of the democratic rule being upheld".
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meanwhile dismissed as "unacceptable" a claim by the EU enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, that the government in Ankara had drawn up arrest lists before the coup attempt.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meanwhile dismissed as "unacceptable" a claim by the EU enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, that the government in Ankara had drawn up arrest lists before the coup attempt.
The government has blamed the coup attempt on supporters of a US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen.
Mr Gulen has denied any involvement and suggested the coup may have been staged itself.
Are you in Turkey? How has the coup attempt changed the country? Have you been affected by recent events? What are your hopes and fears for the future? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.Are you in Turkey? How has the coup attempt changed the country? Have you been affected by recent events? What are your hopes and fears for the future? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
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