Turkey to eliminate presidential guard after failed coup attempt

Turkey's presidential guard will be disbanded after nearly 300 of its members were detained following the failed coup attempt last week, Prime Minister Binali Yildrim said on 23 July. In an interview with A Haber channel, he said "We have taken a decision. There will no longer be a presidential guard, there is no purpose, there is no need."

Yildrim added that members of the guard were part of a group who entered the state run TV channel TRT, during the failed coup. A presenter was forced by the group to read a statement announcing martial law and a curfew.

The Presidential guard is a regiment that has around 2,500 soldiers and at least 283 people following the uprising.

The prime minister elaborated that around 13,000 people were arrested, among who were 1,329 police officers, 8,831 soldiers, 2,100 judges and prosecutors and 689 civilians. Around 5,837 had been held in custody including 3,718 soldiers and 123 generals.

Turkey's military bases, across the country will be moved to the Interior ministry, he said.

Earlier on 23 July, Turkey had detained the nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, Mohamet Sait Gulen, who it claimed, was behind the rebellion. It also arrested Halis Hanci, who is said to be Gulen's right hand man, a presidency official said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had launched a complete clamp down following the failed coup, removing or suspending thousands of government officials, university deans, school teachers making thousands of arrests.

On 20 July, a state of emergency was declared for three months, which Erdogan said would enable authorities to act swiftly and more efficiently against the plotters.