Turkey parades coup ‘plotters’ as Merkel threatens EU ban over plan to execute them

A FORMER air force commander was yesterday paraded as one of the masterminds behind the failed coup in Turkey.

General Akin Ozturk, 64, whose ear was heavily bandaged, admitted leading Friday’s uprising, according to the country’s state-owned news agency.

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It is now feared President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 62, will have the plotters executed, despite opposition from the West.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Erdogan that Turkey will not be able to join the EU if it reintroduces the death penalty. US Secretary of State John Kerry also urged caution.

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Almost 9,000 are now suspected of being part of the coup, which killed 265 and wounded 1,400.

General Ozturk was among 112 generals, admirals and other high-ranking officials who have been detained. The interior ministry also re­portedly sacked more than 8,000 cops yesterday.

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It followed the arrests of 6,000 military staff and suspension of 3,000 judges at the weekend.

And yesterday all civil servants had holiday this year cancelled to try to stem further problems.

It came as a small group of Turks gathered in Downing Street yesterday to show their support for Erdogan.