Turkey's chief of staff promises 'severe punishment' for 'cowards in uniform' involved in failed coup

The chief of Turkey's military general staff said on Sunday soldiers involved in last weekend's failed coup had done great harm to the country and would face "the most severe punishment," private broadcaster NTV reported.

Hulusi Akar, who was briefly taken hostage by the plotters on the night of the coup, also said the armed forces would continue to perform their duties with determination.

"These cowards in uniform, these traitors have inflicted great damage on our nation and especially on our army," he told reporters during a visit to the interior ministry in the capital Ankara to inspect damage caused during the violence.

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Akar was due to meet President Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday, Turkish media reported.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman Global Affairs in Canada says the department is "aware of a Canadian dual-citizen detained in Turkey'' and that Canadian consular officials are standing ready to assist if needed.

Friends and family have identified the man as Davud Hanci — a dual citizen of Turkey and Canada who lives in Calgary and works as an imam for Correctional Service Canada and Alberta correctional services. He went to Turkey for a holiday on July 7. 

Turkish media reports allege Hanci is from Pennsylvania and was working for U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a critic and former ally of Erdogan. Turkey alleges orchestrated the coup attempt, but Gulen has repeatedly denied the claims.

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A Turkish government source told CBC News that Turkey believes Hanci is Gulen's right-hand man, alleging the pair have been seen together in video footage.

Hanci's longtime friend told Postmedia he does not believe Hanci has anything to do with the coup. 

"I don't believe he's involved in any wrong thing," Mahmut Elbasi, of the Anatolian Turkish Islamic Centre of Calgary, said. "I hope he's OK."