Turkey's elite presidential guard is to be disbanded after nearly 300 if its members got involved in last week's failed coup. Those involved were detained immediately.
Earlier, Turkey detained a nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who was said to be behind the uprising despite denying it. A key aide of Mr. Gulen has also been arrested.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a widespread crackdown following the attempted coup. Thousands of service personnels were arrested. Thousands of government officials, school teachers and university heads were suspended.
At least 283 among the 2,500 presidential guards were detained after the uprising.
A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.
Fethullah Gulen, who was once Mr. Erdogan's ally but later fell out with him, has called on the U.S. government to block Turkey's attempts to extradite him.
According to a presidency official quoted by Reuters, Halis Hanci, described as Fethullah Gulen's right-hand man, had been "captured." Officials said that Mr. Hanci had entered Turkey two days before the coup attempt.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Erdogan extended the period in which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days. Also, 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of coup had been released. Those freed were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention.
President Erdogan's tough measures have been criticized by human rights groups, as well as France, Germany and senior EU officials.
Source: BBC
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