Erdogan meets with opposition leaders following coup attempt

Published July 26th, 2016 - 04:00 GMT
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Leader of Republican People's Party (CHP) speaks at Istanbul's Taksim Square on July 24, 2016. (AFP/Ozan Kose)
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Leader of Republican People's Party (CHP) speaks at Istanbul's Taksim Square on July 24, 2016. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met leaders of Turkey's ruling party along with two opposition parties in Ankara, a presidential source said on Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the source said a closed-door meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, head of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Binali Yildirim, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahceli lasted for more than two hours.

On Sunday, Erdogan sent a letter to the leaders of AK Party, CHP and MHP.

"The armed coup attempt by the FETO terrorist group aiming to demolish the democratic state ruled by a constitution, fundamental rights and liberties and the Republic of Turkey was prevented by the brave resistance of our people who strongly adhered to its democracy," read the letter.

"The Turkish people encumbered important responsibilities on all of our institutions by their decisive stance against the coup attempt and now expect our political parties to carry out the same responsibilities in this extremely critical period when we need to be in solidarity," the letter added.

By Ilkay Guder

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