TURKEY’S government blamed the United States yesterday for Friday night’s botched military coup as the commander of the main Nato airbase in the country was arrested.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government cracked down hard, arresting at least 6,000 soldiers, judges and others.

More than 50 generals were under arrest, while 2,745 judges were sacked and warrants issued for the arrests of 53 judges and prosecutors.