Military

Turkish government to propose bringing military under tighter civilian control

 In the wake of last week’s failed coup attempt, government officials here are expected to propose changes in the country’s constitution that will give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government more control over the Turkish armed forces, according to Turkish officials.

With the firing and arrests of more than 50,000 Turkish armed forces members, police, judges and bureaucrats after the coup, the move is likely to be seen as a further attempt by Erdogan to consolidate power. Though only a relatively small faction of the Turkish military participated in the failed revolt, military leaders from across the country have been removed from their posts as Erdogan and his government have sought to remove soldiers and officials they describe as coup plotters and sympathizers to its supposed architect, Islamic scholar and U.S. resident Fetuleh Gulen.