ISTANBUL - Turkey readied Sunday for its first cross-party rally against the bloody putsch attempt, following the break up of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's presidential guard as sweeping purges of suspected state enemies continue. He rejected the European criticism of his response to the coup attempt, saying that "they are biased, they are prejudiced, and they will continue to act in this prejudiced manner towards Turkey". In the latest reaction to the coup, Yildirim said Turkey would disband the 2,500-strong Presidential Guard, saying there was "no need" for the elite regiment. Turkey has argued that EU leaders simply do not understand the seriousness of the threat to Turkish democracy. Almost 300 of its officers have been detained after some of them forced TV news presenters to read statements stating that martial law had been declared during the abortive coup attempt.

Source: Bangkok Post July 24, 2016 10:47 UTC