Obama Urges Rule of Law in Turkey; US Warns of Damage to Relations

The US made clear that it would only act if there was evidence against US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

President Barack Obama urged parties on all sides of the crisis to avoid destabilising Turkey and follow the rule of law after the coup attempt. (Photo: Reuters)

The United States urged Turkey on Saturday to exercise restraint after a failed military coup sparked a government crackdown, and warned its NATO ally that public suggestions of a US role in the plot were “utterly false” and harmful to relations.

President Barack Obama urged parties on all sides of the crisis to avoid destabilising Turkey and follow the rule of law after the coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan.

The coup attempt complicated US-led efforts to combat Islamic State. Turkey closed its airspace to military aircraft and power was cut off to Incirlik air base, which US forces use to launch air attacks against the militant group.

People stand in front of a tank parked at the entrance to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport. (Photo: AP)

US officials were working with Turkish officials to resume air operations quickly, the Pentagon said.

Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that authorities should respect the rule of law during their probe of the coup.

Public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations.

<b> US State Department</b>

US Warns Against Harmful Insinuations

Turkey has long been a key US ally but relations have been strained in recent years and Erdogan’s government has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the coup attempt.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey, and Erdogan urged Washington to deport the cleric.

Kerry responded to the same by stating that the United States was willing to help Turkey, but made clear it would only act if there was evidence against Gulen.

US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. (Photo: AP)

We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen, and obviously we invite the government of Turkey... to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgements appropriately.

<b>John Kerry, Secretary of State</b>

Gulen has condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement in it.

Obama conferred with his national security and foreign policy advisers on Saturday morning and reiterated his support for the “democratically-elected, civilian” government of Turkey.

While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability.

<b>Statement of the White House</b>

Obama noted the United States needed continued cooperation from Turkey in the fight against terrorism.

(With inputs from Reuters)