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Erdogan vows purge of 'virus' from state bodies after coup bid

"We knew this and told all relevant authorities," he warned thousands of mourners at the Fatih mosque in Istanbul

Afp July 17, 2016

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Sunday to purge the "virus" within state bodies, during a speech at the funeral of victims killed during the coup bid he blames on his enemy Fethullah Gulen.

"We will continue to clean the virus from all state bodies because this virus has spread. Unfortunately like a cancer, this virus has enveloped the state.

"We knew this and told all relevant authorities," he warned thousands of mourners at the Fatih mosque in Istanbul.

https://twitter.com/trpresidency/status/754639372683804673

The coup that wasn’t: Turkish people triumph

During a passionate speech, the president paid tribute to the "martyrs" of democracy, insisting that the people were stronger.

"They may have tanks but we have our faith. We will not leave the squares ... but we will continue defiantly.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) and former Turkish president Abdullah Gul (C-R) attend the funeral of victims of the coup attempt in Istanbul on July 17, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

"I said this yesterday, the people's demand for democracy cannot be swept aside. This is your right."

During the attempted coup, 161 civilians and regular troops lost their lives in Istanbul and Ankara, according to government figures.

More than 100 coup plotters were also killed, the military said.

Military ‘coup’ in Turkey

Despite fears in the West and the United States that Erdogan would wreak revenge, he said: "Don't forget this, we are not vengeful."

The remarks appeared to be in response to US President Barack Obama's call for all parties to "act within the rule of law" and for leaders to "avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability".

A Turkish minister said Sunday more than 6,000 people had been arrested and the number would rise.

COMMENTS (4)

Bunny Rabbit | 8 years ago | Reply I am not a political or economic or social analyst but better a known devil. Look at Lybia /Egypt / Iraq/Aghanistan / Syria. their old rulers had some predictability and stability though they were deemed 'villians '. Some communities prospered under them. Arab spring was a big joke . today no one in that area is happy . Turkey should learn from them and stop thinking of coups .

Uza Syed | 8 years ago | Reply This Erdogan guy is one of those crazy folks who are too full of themselves and itch for more and more power. Talk of the cleansing and purges are not new and all this postering and boasting and bravado has surprising returned and funny to watch considering the fact that the brave and popular leader (limited to his Facebook thingy!) started seeking asylum in Germany on the first information about the probability of some triuble and rejected! I suspect that this whole drama was staged and orchestrated to give this megalomaniac an excuse to design and create the Turkish military of his choice. I suspect that he is stupid enough to try and am certain that the military there would just not let this happen which would culminate into a real thing and Turkey would be there minus President Erdogan and his thief son and all.

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