International News

WASHINGTON, (APP/AFP) – A top military chief
and other officials have insisted that the United States was
not involved in the attempted military coup in Turkey, underscoring
tense relations between the allies.
Long-standing partners in NATO and officially fighting
side-by-side against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq,
the US and Turkey have endured severe strains in recent months
that were aggravated by the foiled coup in mid-July.
The commander of US forces in the Middle East, General
Joseph Votel, issued a statement Friday asserting that he had
no link to the coup attempt in Turkey, an unusual move by
one of the highest-ranked US military leaders.
“Any reporting that I had anything to do with the
recent unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey is unfortunate and
completely inaccurate,” Votel said.
“Turkey has been an extraordinary and vital partner in
the region for many years. We appreciate Turkey’s continuing
cooperation and look forward to our future partnership in the
counter-ISIL fight,” the general said, referring to the
Islamic State group.
Votel’s comments came after Turkey’s President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan earlier in the day directly linked him to
the overthrow attempt.
President Barack Obama’s administration also weighed in,
with White House spokesman Eric Schultz saying of Erdogan’s
accusation: “It is entirely false.”
Obama considers Erdogan “a close ally,” the spokesman
said.
“We work together on a number of the president’s
international priorities” including the fight against the
Islamic State, he added.