Two Top Generals Resign in Turkey before Supreme Council Meeting

In an unprecedented move, the military council is taking place at the residency of the Prime Minister (pictured) and not in the military headquarters. File photo, EPA/BGNES

Two members of Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YA?) stepped down on Thursday morning, little before a meeting of the committe aimed at restucturing it in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt, Turkish media report.

The four-star generals, Generals ?hsan Uyar and Kamil Ba?o?lu, were earlier expected to attend the meeting, according to Daily Sabah.

Turkey has dismissed some 1684 military personnel over the past two weeks. A thousand were fired on Wednesday alone. A total of 149 of those discharged were generals.

Other changes were also made, including the subjugation of the Turkish Coast Guard and Gendarmerie to the Interior Ministry, emergencies included (it used to be under the command of the ministry only during peacetime).

As many as 91 generals are to be appointed during the ongoing council, which brings together Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m with land, sea and air force commanders.

Al Jazeera quotes "sources" as saying the two generals resigned in protest against the ongoing military purge.

For the first time the meeting is taking place at the ?ankaya palace of the Prime Minister, rather than the military headquarters.

To date, the YA? was seen as a committee with authority to shape the agenda of the once powerful Turkish military, which has been behind four coups throughout the country's history.

However, its influence over Turkish politics is being reduced through legal changes and reshuffles over the past years.

 

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