Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is withdrawing all lawsuits filed against those that have insulted him. It will involve some two thousand people who have been facing such prosecutions since Erdogan took office 18 months ago.

The president explained the move as triggered by feelings of unity against the coup attempt.

Also on Friday, the country's top military council promoted 99 colonels to the rank of general or admiral and put 48 generals into retirement. But the top brass was little changed after the July 15 failed coup. Erdogan says that the military needs "fresh blood."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says that the government will close an air base near the capital city as well as all military barracks which were used by rogue soldiers during the coup attempt.