Erdogan tells Turks to continue anti-coup protests

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday urged the nation to continue anti-coup protests, calling the national will the "most effective antidote" to the coup.

“I am requesting my heroic nation, which thwarted the armed coup attempt with its foresight and courage, to continue the democracy watch on the streets until our country gets out of this difficult situation for good,” Erdogan said at a news conference held at the Presidential Complex.

He was joined by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar.

“This incident has shown that the most effective and strongest antidote to coup is the national will and the public. I would like my people to show a little more patience and sacrifice,” he said, praising the nation for “carrying out this holy struggle for the past week without letting the slightest provocation.”

Erdogan also announced that the day of the attempted overthrow, July 15, would forever be memorialized as the Day to Commemorate Martyrs.

“Future generations will never forget the heroes of the anti-coup resistance, including policemen, soldiers and civilians,” he said.

The president said 10,410 suspects have so far been detained amid ongoing operations related to the failed coup, with 4,060 remanded back into custody.

At least 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara, and more than 1,500 others were wounded as they protested the coup attempt.

Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming the so-called “parallel state.”