11 soldiers arrested over Erdogan 'kidnap attempt'

Turkish special forces have arrested 11 soldiers suspected to have been involved in an attempt to kidnap President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the failed coup last month, state-run media said.

The soldiers were reportedly caught hiding in a forest area around 48km away from the south-western resort of Marmaris where Erdogan had been staying with his family when the coup erupted.

The state-media reports that they are believed to be part of a group that raided the president's hotel in an attempt to kidnap him.

Erdogan had fled the hotel in Marmaris before the rogue soldiers arrived after being tipped of the night before.

A manhunt following the failed coup involving around 1,000 members of the security forces resulted in the capture of the 11 arrested men. They were reportedly dressed in camouflage and trying to cross a stream. Authorities were  tip-off from a man who spotted them as he was hunting wild boar, the Dogan agency said.

The capture came after Turkey dismissed at least 1,700 military officers in a move to tighten control of the army.

On Monday Turkish defence minister Fikri Isik told the media that expulsions from the military are not entirely over and more personnel will be dismissed if necessary.

Turkey's defence ministry has also changed the jobs of 167 generals within the army, following sweeping changes to the structure of the military over the weekend.

The decree, signed by President Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Isik, reportedly said 94 generals in land forces, 22 admirals, 44 generals in the air force and seven others have been reappointed.

Since the failed coup attempt Erdogan has imposed a state of emergency and launched a sweeping crackdown on those believed to be against him.

More than 18,000 people have so far been detained over the attempt to oust the president, while thousands of government staff are also under investigation.