WASWHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Sunday blasted the “heinous” suicide bombing that killed 51 people in Turkey, and offered its assistance to Ankara in the fight against “the scourge of terrorism.” “The United States strongly condemns yesterday’s heinous attack,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. “We extend heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of the victims and we wish a full and speedy recovery for the many […]
Tag: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan says if people want death penalty parties will abide
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — If the Turkish public want the death penalty following last month’s failed coup then political parties will follow their will, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul on Sunday. “If the nation makes such a decision (in support of death penalty), I believe political parties will abide by this decision,” Erdogan said during a unity rally in Yenikapi square in the touristic Sultanahmet district. “It is the Turkish […]
US-based cleric Gulen slams Turkey judicial system over arrest warrant
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen has condemned Turkey’s judicial system after a court issued an arrest warrant that accuses him of ordering last month’s bid to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “It is well-documented that the Turkish court system is without judicial independence, so this warrant is yet another example of President Erdogan’s drive for authoritarianism and away from democracy,” he said in a statement late on Thursday. The arrest warrant, […]
Turkey needs rule of law ‘for sake of country itself’: EU’s Mogherini
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Turkey must protect the rule of law following the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday, after authorities detained 6,000 in a ruthless crackdown. “We are the ones saying today rule of law has to be protected in the country, there is no excuse for any steps that take the country away from that,” Mogherini said as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels. “As […]
Turkey detains 6,000 in purge after failed coup
by Fulya OZERKAN Raziye AKKOC ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish authorities pressed on Sunday with a ruthless crackdown against suspects in the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with 6,000 people detained as he vowed to stamp out the “virus” of the putschists. Erdogan said Turkey could consider reinstating the death penalty following the putsch bid, despite concerns in the international community. World leaders including US President Barack Obama have strongly condemned Friday’s attempted […]
At least 36 killed in suicide bomb attack at Istanbul airport
by Katy Lee with Burak Akinci and Fulya Ozerkan in Ankara ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — A triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport killed at least 36people and left scores wounded, in the latest deadly strike to rock Turkey’s biggest city. The attackers began spraying bullets at airport guards at the terminal entrance and a shootout erupted before they blew themselves up one by one at around 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) Tuesday, […]
Turkey visa deal unravels as Erdogan defies EU on key condition
by Fulya OZERKAN ANKARA , Turkey (AFP) — A deal to grant Turks visa-free travel to most of the European Union was hanging by a thread Thursday after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defiantly vowed Ankara would not fulfil a key condition set by Brussels. With alarm growing over the deal’s future, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker bluntly told Erdogan that Turks would only enjoy travel to the passport-free Schengen area if all conditions were met […]
