NAN-F-34
Coup
Istanbul, July 11, 2017 (dpa/NAN) The Turkish government on Tuesday launched the first of events to commemorate anniversary of the 2016 failed coup by a faction in the military.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim went to a cemetery in Istanbul to visit graves of some of those who died on the night of July 15, 2016 when the putsch was attempted.
Since the coup, Turkey has installed a state-of-emergency that granted the government wide-ranging powers and pushed through a referendum expanding the authority of President Recep Erdogan.
More than 50,000 people have been arrested as a crackdown on suspected political opponents and coup supporters continues.
The government blamed the coup attempt on US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who had denied the charges.
The memorial events will culminate with Erdogan giving a speech in parliament on July 16, to mark when the building was attacked. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/OPI