Turkish president honors anniversary of failed coup

By Ferdi Turkten and Busra Nur Bilgic

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's president on Monday commemorated the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt, orchestrated by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid flowers on the July 15 Martyrs Monument in the Presidential Complex early in the morning.

Erdogan, along with relatives of martyrs and veterans, went to the Bestepe Millet mosque for prayer services for the martyrs.

Bakir Izzetbegovic, the former Bosniak member of Bosnia's three-member Presidential Council, also accompanied Erdogan in the commemoration ceremonies.

Erdogan also attended a special Parliament session for the commemoration of July 15 later in the day.

First Lady Emine Erdogan also remembered July 15 coup bid on Twitter.

"On the anniversary of July 15, we commemorate our heroic martyrs, who gave their lives for the sake of our country, and our veterans with gratitude and thanks. I am very proud to be a member of this cherished nation," she said.

Turkey marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day. The day is commemorated with events honoring those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and in remembrance of the the bravery of the nation.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the legitimate state apparatus, through infiltrations into Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.