Turkish opposition figure lashes out at coup plotters

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 19: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (R) shakes hands with the Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli (L) prior to their joint press conference in Ankara, Turkey on July 19, 2016. ( Anadolu Agency - Hakan Göktepe )
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli says there is ‘no difference’ between coup leaders and PKK, Daesh
Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli has slammed Friday’s coup plotters, saying there is “no difference between the masterminds of the failed attempted coup and Daesh or the PKK”, according to Anadolu Agency.

Speaking on Tuesday at a MHP parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Bahceli said: “An elected government will be only replaced by an elected one. There is no other choice. The coup attempts to overturn the government illegally will lead to a huge malignancy in the country.”

Labeling the putsch leaders hiding in the military for years as “manslayers, forever traitors in the sight of army personnel”, Bahceli added: “The dignity and chastity of democracy is saved. The reaction of the people to the coup attempt at the cost of their lives deserves appreciation.”

In a reference to Pennsylvania-based cleric Fetullah Gulen, Bahceli said: “The Republic of Turkey has been bombarded from overseas; the U.S. should extradite the head of the terror group immediately.”