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Turkey Coup: mid-day Saturday updates
Pro-coup soldiers seeking asylum arrested in GreeceSeven military personnel and a civilian on board a Turkish military helicopter who were arrested after landing in northern Greece would be extradited to Turkey, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Saturday. A Blackhawk military helicopter landed at the airport in the city of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece and the passengers were arrested for illegal entry into Greece. The Greek government said that the Blackhawk helicopter will be returned to Turkey as soon as possible, and added that the asylum demand of the eight coup-involved staff will be examined. Later on, Greek officials told foreign minister Çavuşoğlu that they would extradite the pro-coup soldiers who flied there after the coup attempt failed. The ministry said the helicopter gave a distress signal at 10:45 a.m. local time and landed six minutes later. They have reportedly requested political asylum, according to Greek police officials. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that Turkey has requested extradition of soldiers who escaped to Greece, while Greek authorities said they are are ready to cooperate with Turkey, what is necessary will be done. Judicial board dismisses judges over coup attempt The Turkish Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) laid off 2,745 judges and removed five members after an extraordinary meeting on Saturday, which came after a failed coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ), while 11 prosecutors, 10 Court of Appeals members were arrested, and arrest warrants were issued for 140 others.
Some 541 judges were from courts of first instance among the total 2,745 judges who were laid off, while the remaining 2,204 judges were from courts of original jurisdiction. Pro-coup soldiers blocking Istanbul's Bosporus Bridge surrender Approximately 50 soldiers backing the coup against the Turkish government on Saturday surrendered on the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul that they had held throughout the night, television pictures showed. The soldiers, dressed in full camouflage, walked out from behind their tank holding their hands above their heads, while television stations were in live broadcast. The state-run Anadolu news agency said 50 soldiers were arrested. Pictures showed supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan jubilantly jumping onto one of the tanks left behind by the departing soldiers, cheering, making victory signs and waving the Turkish flag. Others sought to run across the bridge that had been closed all night, kicking the helmets and protective gear left behind by the rebel soldiers as they passed. The bridge was one of the first locations secured by pro-coup troops during the initial stages of the coup. Obama convenes NSC over coup attempt President Obama convenes national security council after failed coup attempt in Turkey, White House said. In a statement, the White House said that Obama had convened a meeting with "his national security and broader foreign policy team to update him on the situation in Turkey." During the coup, Obama offered vocal support for Turkey's "democratically elected government" and urged all parties to "avoid any violence or bloodshed." Posted by: Steve White 2016-07-16 |
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