Turkey stages largest-ever rally to show unity against coup bid
(Xinhua) Updated: 2016-08-08 09:27
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A man waves Turkey's national flag during the Democracy and Martyrs Rally to protest against last month's failed military coup attempt, in Istanbul, Turkey, August 7, 2016. |
"Turkish armed forces are on duty and on the service of its people and the state," the general said.
The Turkish military, the most powerful after the US within the NATO bloc, is being restructured in Anraka's sweeping efforts to clean state institutions of coup suspects and followers of the so-called Gulen movement led by Fetullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric residing in the United States.
Erdogan and other top Turkish officials have accused Gulen of masterminding the failed coup and demanded his extradition, straining further the relations with Washington.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, urged all the political parties to take all the precautions needed to protect the parliamentary system, secularism and democracy.
Drawing attention to the widespread social consensus against all kind of coups, he said, "If we would be able to carry this culture of consensus even further, we will leave a better Turkey to the next generations."
A sense of reconciliation between the ruling and opposition parties has been felt in the past weeks, a development unthinkable prior to the coup attempt.
"As long as we maintain our unity and solidarity, no traitor could harm us," claimed Devlet Bahceli, leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party.
Rallies to "watch democracy" have been staged every night in city squares across Turkey since the coup attempt was foiled.
Erdogan announced that the "democracy watch" rallies will continue until the coming Wednesday.
Extreme security measures were taken for the massive Yenikapi rally, with 30,000 police officers and several warships and coast guard boats deployed nearby.
