Purge of Turkey coup supporters intensifies

The United States and Europe urged Turkey to respect democracy and human rights as a purge of alleged supporters of a failed plot to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intensified Monday.

Turkey’s interior ministry fired 9,000 people across the country, including police and 30 governors, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. More than 6,000 people suspected of being connected to the coup were detained and questioned, including more than 100 generals and admirals, according to Anadolu.

Friday's uprising by elements within Turkey's military was quashed by loyal government forces and masses of civilians who took to the streets. At least 232 people were killed and more than 1,400 wounded.

The government has blamed the insurrection on supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric who has become Erdogan’s chief opponent. Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, strongly denies any involvement.

One of those arrested was Akin Ozturk, the former commander of Turkey's air force. Turkish media say he's been accused of being a ringleader in the coup, but Ozturk denied those claims.

According to his testimony obtained by broadcaster NTV, Ozturk said he was planning to attend the wedding of a friend's daughter in Istanbul, but was held up in the coastal city of Izmir, more than 300 miles from Turkey's capital. "I do not know who planned or directed this coup," Ozturk told investigators, according to NTV.

The widespread detentions have prompted world leaders to preach caution. At a news conference in Brussels alongside Secretary of State John Kerry, Federica Mogherini, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said Washington and Brussels agreed that as Turkey rounds up suspects, it must respect the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in responding to the coup attempt.

"We will certainly support bringing perpetrators of the coup to justice, but we also caution against a reach that goes well beyond that," Kerry said.

He also said NATO would be watching closely to ensure that Turkey, a member of the alliance and U.S. ally, meets its democracy requirements.

Erdogan said in an interview Monday with CNN that the failed coup was a "clear crime of treason." He said he would support reintroducing the death penalty for those who took part in the coup attempt, if Turkey's parliament decides it should be restored. Turkey abolished capital punishment in 2004 as it sought entry into the European Union.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said if Turkey reinstates the death penalty, it would lead to the suspension of its talks to join the EU.

The EU is a “community of values, therefore the institution of the death penalty can only mean that such a country could not be a member,” Steffen Seibert said in Berlin.

Alleged mastermind of attempted coup in Turkey is cleric living in Pennsylvania

Warplanes continued to patrol Turkey’s skies Monday, a sign that authorities fear the threat against the government is not yet over.

Turkish media reported that a man was detained by police after he opened fire near a courthouse in Ankara, the capital, where some of the top generals were being questioned.

Turkey’s prime minister, Binali Yildirim, insisted the failed coup was not affecting the county's ability to counter terrorist threats or having an impact on the economy.

“Our banks, our bourses, are working. Our central bank is on top of its duties. Any changes in economic indices are normal and no different from fluctuations recorded on normal days,” Yildirim told reporters in Ankara.

During his interview with CNN, Erdogan also gave more details about the harrowing moments when coup plotters nearly captured him.

Erdogan said he was vacationing at a resort in southwest Turkey when coup plotters overran the resort, killing two of his bodyguards. "Had I stayed 10, 15 additional minutes, I would have been killed or I would have been taken," he told CNN through a translator provided by the presidency.

In Istanbul, the coup plotters also took over the command and control towers of Ataturk International Airport for several hours, Erdogan said. He said the power was shut off at all military bases to ensure the renegade soldiers couldn't use any equipment at them.