President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a sweeping crackdown on those he accuses of being involved in the July 15 attempted coup. ___12:20 p.m.Thousands of supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to demonstrate in the German city of Cologne amid heavy police presence. The Turkish president’s spokesman is criticizing what he says is a German ban on an appearance by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a live broadcast at an anti-coup rally in Germany. Organizers played the Turkish and German national anthems and held a minute of silence for the victims of the coup as Sunday’s rally got underway. No to the coup.”Police said shortly before the rally began that some 10,000 people had arrived at the riverside site, across the Rhine from downtown Cologne.

Source: Washington Post July 31, 2016 11:48 UTC