Military cleared of Gülen-linked elements: Turkish PM

ANKARA

DHA photo

Turkey's military has been cleared of Fethullah Gülen-linked elements after the Supreme Military Council completed its work July 28, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said July 29.

Speaking at an event at the presidential complex in Ankara to commemorate victims of the July 15 coup attempt, Yıldırım said life in Turkey had returned to normal after the failed coup was crushed.        

“Those who show tolerance to traitors are also traitors themselves,” he said.        

Yıldırım noted that Turkish people were continuing to take to the streets and squares across the country for the sake of protecting democracy in the country.        

“The power of the people has overcome the power of the tanks,” he said.        

On July 28, the Supreme Military Council had held a meeting under the chairmanship of Yıldırım in Ankara, which decided to keep Gen. Hulusi Akar as Turkey's chief of general staff.        

A total of 16 generals and admirals were promoted to a higher rank while some 99 colonels became admirals or generals. The tenures of 20 generals and admirals were prolonged for another year during the meeting.

Some 47 generals and admirals were retired due to a lack of available positions after completing their waiting periods to gain promotion to higher ranks while one general will retire on Sept. 1 due to age limits.