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Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has held a press statement together with the Chief of General Staff General Hulusi Akar. Yıldırım has called on the people to take to the streets also this evening (July 16).
Offering condolences to those who have lost their lives in the coup attempt, Yıldırım has thanked to to the political parties, political party supporters, NGOs, police officers, Turkish Armed Forces and all citizens as well as journalists who have poured into the streets.
2,839 taken into custody
Yıldırım has noted that 2,839 persons including officers with different ranks and soldiers have been taken into custody, 161 persons have been killed. Yıldırım has added that they had the information that 20 persons involved in the coup attempt were killed yet the number was not certain yet.
“The first phase of the incident has ended here. While our citizens continue their daily lives on one hand, all actions from now on will be taken without delay and in retortion against those who try to discredit our state and nation before others countries of the world.
“We will continue our course in determination. [...] I congratulate our country and nation to our July 15 democracy feast.
Many under custody
Yıldırım answering the questions of the journalists following his statement has noted that all who were the backbones of the Turkish Armed Forces’ Freedom in the Country, Freedom in World’ Committee signing the coup declaration have been taken into custody. (EA/DG)
