24 July 2016•Update: 25 July 2016
By Cigdem Pala
ISTANBUL
The leader of Turkey's main parliamentary opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has harshly condemned the July 15 coup during a major rally on Sunday in Istanbul.
“The Turkish parliament was hit by a bomb, however parliament did its duty and repelled the coup attempt,” Kemal Kilicdaroglu said.
Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in central Istanbul's Taksim Square to show their unity and solidarity.
Speaking at the rally, called Republic and Democracy, Kilicdaroglu said: “We condemn those who are responsible for the coup attempt and their domestic and foreign supporters, if any.”
The opposition leader also underlined the importance of solidarity:
“The people who live in Turkey should come together and resist any possibility of another coup attempt in these days,” Kilicdaroglu said.
Separately, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited leaders of some of Turkey's political parties, including the CHP, to the presidential palace in Ankara on Monday to thank them for their stance against the coup attempt.
Last week's deadly coup attempt occurred when rogue elements in the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically-elected government.
Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.
Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the ‘parallel state’.
* Hatice Kesgin contributed to this report from Ankara.
