Brussels: The United States and European Union yesterday sternly warned Turkey to respect the rule of law after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&rsquo;s government launched a massive crackdown following the failed coup.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jul/Women-cry.jpg" alt="" /> Women cry during the funeral ceremony of a victim of the coup attempt in Turkey. Pic/AFP
Germany and the EU also said any move by Turkey to reinstate the death penalty for the coup plotters would derail Ankara&rsquo;s long-stalled membership bid. US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in Brussels that Friday&rsquo;s attempted putsch was &ldquo;no excuse&rdquo; for excessive action.
"We will certainly support bringing the perpetrators of the coup to justice but we also caution against a reach that goes well beyond that," Kerry told a press conference with Mogherini.
The EU and US "urge the government of Turkey to uphold the highest standards of respect for the nation&rsquo;s democratic institutions and the rule of law", he added.
The EU commissioner dealing with Turkey&rsquo;s long-stalled bid for membership of the bloc said it appeared that the government had already prepared a list before the coup of people to be rounded up. &ldquo;I mean, (that) the lists are available already after the event indicates that this was prepared and at a certain moment should be used,&rdquo; enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel&rsquo;s spokesman denounced &ldquo;revolting scenes of caprice and revenge against soldiers on the streets&rdquo; after disturbing pictures emerged of the treatment of some detained suspects.
After Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey would consider a return of capital punishment, spokesman Steffen Seibert said such a move 'would mean the end of EU membership talks'. Mogherini was quick to echo the German position. "Let me be very clear... no country can become an EU state if it introduces the death penalty,&rdquo; she said.
7,500 The number of suspects detained for allegedly plotting the coup 9,000 The number of officials, including police officers, dismissed after the failed coup

The US and EU also warned the nation that the attempted putsch was 'no excuse' to break democratic traditions

'Forget EU seat if you revive death penalty'

German police kill Afghan teen after train axe attack

The US and EU also warned the nation that the attempted putsch was 'no excuse' to break democratic traditions

'Forget EU seat if you revive death penalty'

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'Forget EU seat if you revive death penalty'

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