Ankara: Turkey has arrested 11 fugitive
soldiers and said at least 311 soldiers, including nine generals, are still at
large following this month’s coup attempt.
Fikri Isik, Turkish defence minister, said
expulsions from the army were not over and more personnel would be dismissed if
necessary. He told CNN Turk television on Monday that the fugitives were
believed to still be in Turkey.
The 11 soldiers arrested on Monday were
suspected of involvement in an attack on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hotel
during the night of the July 15 failed coup.
Also on Monday, 167 generals were reappointed
by the defence ministry. The job changes ordered by the fourth decree signed by
Erdogan since the announcement of the state of emergency touched at least 94
generals in land forces, 22 admirals, 44 generals in the airforce and seven
others.
Erdogan says Fethullah Gulen, a US-based
businessman, was behind the attempted coup.
More than 60,000 people in the military,
judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or placed
under investigation since the incident.
Turkey admitted on Monday there may have been
some “unfair” treatment in its post-coup crackdown as it voiced anger at
Germany for barring Erdogan from addressing a rally in Cologne.
“There must definitely be some among them who
were subjected to unfair procedures,” he said in comments published by
state-run Anadolu news agency. “We will make a distinction between those who
are guilty and those who are not.”
Echoing his tone, Deputy Prime Minister Numan
Kurtulmus said, “If there are any mistakes, we will correct them”.
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