Turkish army vows 'severe punishment' for coup traitors

By Ilhan Toprak

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s military on Thursday reiterated its vows to severely punish those involved in Friday’s failed coup.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Turkish General Staff condemned those involved in the coup attempt, accusing them of having "defamed the Turkish state, its history, and its honorable armed forces".

The staff said Turkish army was in duty with all of its officers, from its youngest privates to its highest-ranking generals, within a democratic judicial system.

In a similar statement issued on Wednesday, General Staff said the coup attempt was completely suppressed across the country on July 17, 2017 at 4.00 pm (GMT 1300).

The statement said the information of the coup attempt was given by the National Security Organization (MIT) on July 15, 2017 at 4.00 pm (GMT 1300).

"The Information was evaluated by Chief of the General Staff Hulusi Akar, Turkish Land Forces Commander Salih Zeki Colak, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Yasar Guler in the headquarters of general staff," it said.

The generals gave essential orders to Turkish Air and Land Forces to take the necessary measures to block the whole coup attempt.

According to the statement, the pro-coup members forced the Chief of the General Staff Akar to sign and read out the coup statement on TV.

"This demand of traitors has been angrily and definitely denied by Chief of the General Staff with libelous words," it said.

The statement said the Turkish General Staff has given the necessary response to the members of illegal terrorist organization [FETO].

"Although this coup attempt has been started within the body of Turkish General Staff, the traitors who attempt to do this have nothing to do with the overwhelming majority of Turkish General Staff's members who love their motherland, nation, flag," it said.

The deadly coup attempt occurred late Friday when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government.

At least 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara and nearly 1,500 others wounded as they protested against the coup.

The government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through supporters within the Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming the parallel state.

*Burcu Arik contributed to this report from Istanbul.