Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said that July 15 would be observed as the day of democracy every year in Turkey.
Addressing a news conference, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, “The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so.”
Binali Yildirim said 161 people were killed in the coup attempt against the government, with 2,839 soldiers now detained on suspicion of involvement.
Yildirim, speaking outside his Cankaya palace in Ankara and flanked by top general Hulusi Akar who was held during the coup attempt, also described the putsch bid as a “black stain” on Turkish democracy. He added that 1,440 people had been wounded.
Prime Minister Binali said 120 of those involved had been arrested.
Earlier, forces loyal to the Turkish government fought on Saturday to crush the remnants of a military coup attempt which crumbled after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan’s call to take to the streets and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks.
Ninety people were killed, including many civilians after a faction of the armed forces tried to seize power using tanks and attack helicopters. Some strafed the headquarters of Turkish intelligence and parliament in the capital, Ankara, and others seized a major bridge in Istanbul.
“Last night was one of the darkest ones in the history of Turkey,” said the prime minister.
“Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Yildirim said while addressing media.
Binali announced that July 15th will be considered as the day that celebrates democracy.
Scores of members from Turkish armed forces were arrested across the country after a coup attempt blamed by the government on supporters of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
