International News

ANKARA, (APP/AFP) – Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan was Wednesday to chair a crunch security meeting
in Ankara for the first time since the failed coup, with tens of
thousands either detained or sacked from their jobs in a widening
purge.
The Turkish air force meanwhile launched their first strikes
against targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in
northern Iraq since the putsch aimed at unseating Erdogan, in a sign
he has regained full control over the armed forces.
The coup represented the most serious threat to Erdogan’s
13 year domination of Turkey, and the president has said he came
within 15 minutes of being killed or kidnapped by the plotters
before escaping.
The putsch left over 300 dead and caused scenes of
devastation, especially in Ankara where raids by F-16s and
attack helicopters on strategic targets terrified residents
and turned parts of parliament and the police headquarters to
rubble.