Politics this week

A faction of Turkey’s armed forces attempted a coup, but was defeated by other military units, police and crowds of civilians. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a crackdown, arresting or purging thousands of military officers, judges, academics, journalists and others. The government accused Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric based in America, of plotting the coup (which he denied), and sought his extradition. The EU and America warned Mr Erdogan not to crush democracy. See article .