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Recep Tayyip Erdogan

INSTANBUL. — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday launched his most bitter attack yet on Turkey’s Western allies over the July 15 attempted putsch, accusing them of supporting both “terror” and the coup plotters who tried to unseat him. President Erdogan, who blames the plot on the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, also described the coup as a “scenario written from outside” in an allusion to foreign involvement.

Turkey meanwhile,km issued arrest warrants for about 100 staff, including doctors, at Ankara’s main military hospital, in a new phase of the crackdown after the failed coup that has seen some 18 000 detained and caused international consternation.

“Unfortunately, the West is supporting terror and standing by the coup plotters,” said Erdogan in a combative speech at his presidential palace, denouncing “those who we imagined to be friends”.

President Erdogan lashed out at Germany’s judicial authorities for not allowing him to address via video conference a weekend rally in Cologne in his support.

“Bravo! The courts in Germany work very fast!” President Erdogan said with heavy irony. He accused Germany of allowing leaders from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to address previous events via video conference.

He said Turkey had previously also handed Germany a list of more than 4 000 wanted militants without having any response. The president, who had previously alluded to foreign states involvement, gave his strongest indication yet that external powers could have been played a role. — AFP.