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8. April 2017, 21:58

Turkey coup crackdown continues

Authorities in Turkey say nearly 8000 police officers suspected of links to the failed coup attempt at the weekend have been removed from their posts, along with dozens of high ranking civil servants. The state news agency says more than 100 generals are among the thousands of people arrested since the failed coup, in which over 200 people died. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the United States based cleric Fetullah Gulen of instigating the failed coup, and has said Turkey will request his extradition. The US has said credible evidence must be presented.

EU calls for Turkey to uphold law

Speaking ahead of today’s European Union foreign ministers meeting the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned the Turkish government to act within the rule of law in its response to the coup attempt. “As we have been the first ones to say on that tragic night that the democratic and legitimate institutions needed to be protected, today we will say together with the ministers that the rule of law and the system of checks and balances in the country needs to be protected for the sake of the country itself.” United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who attended the EU meeting also called on Turkish authorities to respect democratic institutions. Meanwhile eight Turkish military personnel who fled to Greece during the attempted coup have requested asylum.

France remembers Nice victims

France has held a minute’s silence in memory of the more than 80 people killed last Thursday in a truck attack in the city of Nice. The security cabinet has said new measures will be introduced to prevent such attacks in future. The uncle of the suspect has claimed he was radicalised two weeks ago by an Algerian member of the Islamic State group in Nice.

Obama condemns attack on police

Investigators in the United States say the gunmen who shot dead three police officers in Baton Rouge yesterday had posted videos online calling on black people to ‘fight back’ in protest at the killings of African Americans by police. The gunman, named as Gavin Long, was a former Marine. President Barack Obama has condemned the attack on police: “We as a nation have to be loud and clear that nothing justifies violence against law enforcement. Attacks on police are an attack on all of us and the rule of law that makes society possible.”

Trump convention opens

In the United States the Republican Party's National Convention opens in Cleveland, Ohio later today, with Donald Trump expected to be officially confirmed as the party’s nominee for the presidential election in November. Trump has chosen former congressman Mike Pence as his running mate.

Almaty on terror alert

The capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, has been placed on the highest state of alert after two gunmen killed three policemen and a civilian. Authorities said an anti-terrorist operation is underway.

The weather

Partly sunny with scattered rain and thundershowers. Top temperatures 20 to 29 degrees.

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