The United States supports Turkey's efforts to put down a "coup" against its elected government but wants to see democratic norms respected, Secretary of State John Kerry said today.
Kerry, flanked by allied foreign ministers, restated US support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government as it pursues a vast purge of suspected putsch supporters from its military, administration and schools.
"We condemn this coup, and we are clear about our desire to see democracy be sustained and flourish in Turkey," Kerry told reporters in Washington.
"We have all of us said that we want to make certain that as the response to the coup is implemented it fully respects that democracy that we are supporting."
The United States was quick to condemn last week's short-lived military uprising in Turkey, but senior officials did not immediately use the term "coup" to describe it.
Washington remains supportive of Erdogan's attempt to restore order but -- along with Turkey's other NATO allies in Europe -- has begun to express concern about the sweeping nature of the crackdown.
