Turkish crackdown on coup accomplices rages on

Ankara arrests 11 more soldiers and authorities warn of more to come after coup attempt.

Turkish gendarmeries escort one of the 11 fugitive commandos
Erdogan says Fethullah Gulen was behind the attempted coup [Kenan Gurbuz/Reuters]

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.

READ MORE: The lessons to be learned from Turkey’s failed coup

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 air force 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.

‘Unfair’ treatment

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”.

Source: News Agencies