Washington not involved in Turkey coup attempt: US ambassador
The American ambassador to Turkey has said Washington was not involved in last month's failed military coup attempt against the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
John Bass made the remarks in an interview with the English daily Hurriyet Daily News on Saturday, in an effort to dismiss persistent accusations by some Turkish officials that the US government played a role in the July 15 incident.
"I just want to say again, as I've said before and as we've said from Washington, the United States government did not plan, direct, support or have any advance knowledge of any of the illegal activities that occurred the night of July 15 and into July 16. Full stop," Bass said.
He added that he was "deeply disturbed and offended by the accusations" targeting Washington.
On July 15, a faction of the Turkish military declared it was in control of the country and the government was no more in charge.Tanks, helicopters, and soldiers then clashed with police and people on the streets of the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul. More than 300 people were killed on all sides in the attempted coup d’état that was gradually suppressed.
Washington has repeatedly denounced the claims of US involvement in the coup attempt as utterly false and harmful to bilateral ties.
And, US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Turkey not to go too far with its ongoing detainment and ouster of thousands of military personnel, police officers and judges accused of involvement in the failed coup attempt.
Erdogan has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey and abroad, of masterminding the failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,100 others sustained injuries. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup.
Washington claims that it was not behind the coup in Turkey and supports democracy in the country, and says it is ready to extradite Gulen if Ankara can offer any evidence proving his involvement.
"Frankly, if we would have had knowledge we would have told the Turkish government about it immediately," Bass said.
The ambassador said America wants to see a "strong, prosperous, democratic, confident Turkey.”
"Anyone who thinks that the United States somehow profits from Turkey being divided and destabilized I think is misreading history to a profound degree,” he argued.
US Senate approves ban on Russian uranium imports
US police enter Columbia University to clear pro-Palestinian protesters
US, foreign attorneys call on Biden to halt arms sales to Israel: Report
Iran says all crew of seized ship released on 'humanitarian' grounds
VIDEO | Seoul activists demand arms embargo against Israel
UK students occupy university campuses in protest over Israeli war on Gaza
VIDEO | Press TV’s news headlines
VIDEO | Crackdown at US campuses rooted in Israeli lobby's repression of academia
VIDEO | Global students for Gaza
Russia rejects US accusation of violating chemical weapons ban in Ukraine
Gaza media office slams Israel for killing dozens of Palestinian journalists
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
