ISTANBUL: Turkey dismissed more than 7,000 police, soldiers and ministry officials under a new decree published Friday under a state of emergency imposed after last year’s failed coup, state media reported. A total of 7,563 people — including police — have been dismissed in the latest purge, the Anadolu news agency reported. Turkish authorities also stripped 342 retired army personnel of their rank, Anadolu said. Earlier, Hurriyet daily reported that 7,348 people including 2,303 police — were dismissed in total. The new decree came a day before Turkey marks the first anniversary of a military-led bid to seize power from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey blamed the failed putsch on US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who denies the accusations, and vowed to root out his “virus” from state institutions. Published in Daily Times, July 15th , 2017.