Turkey coup bid: Erdogan says US general ‘taking side of plotters’

Turkey’s president has blasted remarks by top US general Joseph Votel in the wake of the failed coup, accusing him of being “on the side of the plotters”.

Gen Votel, head of US Central Command, said jailing some military leaders could damage Turkish-American military co-operation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Gen Votel should thank Turkey for securing democracy.

The interior minister said on Friday 18,000 people had so far been detained.

‘Know your place!’

Gen Votel had said on Thursday: “We have certainly had relationships with a lot of Turkish leaders – military leaders in particular. I am concerned about what the impact is on those relationships as we continue.”

On Friday, President Erdogan condemned the comments, saying: “It’s not up to you to make that decision. Who are you? Know your place! You are taking the side of coup plotters instead of thanking this state for defeating the coup attempt.”

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Image courtesy of AFP