Turkey to disband presidential guard
Online Desk
23 Jul 2016 23:47 PM । Update: 24 Jul 2016 00:48 AM
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses people demonstrating against the Parallel State/Gulenist Terrorist Organization's failed military coup attempt in Turkey, via video conferencing at the Turkish Presidency in Ankara, Turkey on July 24, 2016.
Turkey's elite presidential guard is to be disbanded after nearly 300 of its members were detained following last week's failed coup, reports the BBC.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told a TV channel that there was "no need" for the regiment.
Earlier, Turkey detained a nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who it says was behind the uprising. He strongly denies the claim.
A key aide of Mr Gulen has also been arrested, a presidency official said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a widespread crackdown following the attempted coup, arresting thousands of service personnel and sacking or suspending thousands of government officials, school teachers and university heads.
A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.
"There will no longer be a presidential guard, there is no purpose, there is no need," Mr Yildirim told the A Haber TV channel.
The presidential guard numbers up to 2,500 soldiers but at least 283 were detained after the uprising.
Fethullah Gulen, who was once an ally of Mr Erdogan but then fell out with him, has called on the US government to block Turkey's attempts to extradite him.
