ANKARA: Turkish authorities issued warrants on Wednesday for the detention of 47 former executives or senior journalists at the Zaman newspaper, which was associated with the US-based Muslim cleric who the government says is behind Turkey’s failed July 15 coup.

At least one journalist, former Zaman columnist Sahin Alpay, was detained at his home early on Wednesday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Zaman, which was linked to Fethullah Gulen’s religious movement, was raided by police and seized by the government in March as part of a clampdown on the group.

Earlier this week, Turkey issued arrest warrants against 42 other journalists, of whom 16 have been detained for questioning. Tens of thousands of other state employees with suspected links to Gulen have been suspended from their jobs in sectors including education, health care, city government and even Turkish Airlines.

In a statement Wednesday, the Turkish military said as many as 35 warplanes, 37 helicopters, 74 tanks and three navy vessels were used by the plotters in their failed coup attempt.

At least 8,651 military personnel were involved, it said, adding that they constituted 1.5 per cent of the Armed Forces’ personnel. The country’s energy minister, meanwhile, lamented what he said was a lack of strong support from European nations and the United States toward Turkey’s efforts to counter the “anti-democratic” process.

“Until now, we have not received the backing and the statements that we, the whole of Turkey, expect from these countries,” said Berat Albayrak, who is also President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son-in-law. He warned that a lack of support for Turkey could harm ties with allies. “There is a need for an intelligent and rational review by our interlocutors,” Albayrak said.

15,000 detained so far

Turkish authorities have detained more than 15,000 people, including more than 10,000 soldiers, following the July 15-16 failed coup attempt, broadcaster CNN Turk on Wednesday cited interior minister Efkana Ala as saying.

A total of 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial, the broadcaster cited Ala as saying.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016