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Coup row: Turkey discharges 820 more military personnel

Some 35,000 people have been detained for questioning, with more than 17,000 of them being formally arrested to face trial.

Istanbul: Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency says more than 800 further personnel have been discharged from the military in the latest crackdown following July's abortive coup.

It reported on Thursday that the Ministry of National Defence has dishonourably discharged 820 personnel from the Army and Navy. Of those, 648 were already under arrest.

The government has launched a massive crackdown against the movement led by U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. Ankara alleges Gulen and his followers were responsible for the violent coup attempt that left more than 270 people dead. Gulen denies any involvement.

Some 35,000 people have been detained for questioning, with more than 17,000 of them being formally arrested to face trial. Tens of thousands more people have been suspended or dismissed from their jobs, including thousands from the military.

( Source : AP )
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