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Turkey’s president reforms military after failed coup

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a speech commemorating those killed and wounded during a failed July 15 military coup, in Ankara, Turkey, late Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer Presidential Press Service, via AP Pool) Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a speech commemorating those killed and wounded during a failed July 15 military coup, in Ankara, Turkey, late Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer Presidential Press Service, via AP Pool)

By Associated Press July 31, 2016 1 min read

ISTANBUL (AP) – A new presidential decree has introduced sweeping reforms to Turkey’s military in the wake of the failed coup in the country.

Sunday’s decree gives the president and prime minister the authority to issue direct orders to the commanders of the army, air force and navy. It also shuts down military schools, establishes a new national defense university, puts the force commanders directly under the defense ministry and announces the discharge of 1,389 military personnel.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a sweeping crackdown on those he accuses of being involved in the July 15 attempted coup.

In an interview with private A Haber television Saturday, Erdogan said he also wants to put the country’s intelligence agency and the chief of general staff’s headquarters under the presidency.