Turkish military helicopter lands in Greece, eight on board seek asylum

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Turkish military helicopter landed in Greece Saturday, July 16 carrying eight men seeking asylum after a coup bid, Greek police said, according to AFP.

The Black Hawk helicopter landed after sending a distress signal to authorities at the airport in Alexandroupolis in the country's north.

Seven of those on board were in military uniform and all are believed to have been involved in the attempted putsch, ERT TV said.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara had asked Athens to send back the eight coup plotters.

"We have requested Greece to extradite the eight traitors as soon possible," Cavusoglu was quoted as telling HaberTurk television, AFP says.

According to an official in the Greek National Defence General Staff, "the helicopter is scheduled to be sent back immediately to Turkey."

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras early Saturday expressed his "support for the democratically elected" Turkish government.