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15:08 GMT
ANKARA, July 29 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan on Friday affirmed his government would pursue purging the army and the administration to clear it of elements affiliated to the disbanded movement, the "Parallel State Organization" of Fethulla Gulen.
The president, in a statement at special forces headquarters in the Turkish capital, praised the ordinary citizens for responding his call during the recent foiled coup d'أ©tat to take action and stand in the way of the "conspirators."
He slammed as tantamount to intervention in domestic affairs official US criticisms for detaining army officers suspected of involvement in the putsch on grounds that their arrest would hamper the fight against the so-called Islamic State.
Ankara and other Turkish cities witnessed, on July 15, an attempt by military officers to overthrow Erdogan's leadership. Police, internal security personnel as well as unarmed citizens stood in the way of the rebelling tank-armed troops, disarmed and arrested many of them.(end)
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