Council of Europe head visits Turkey in wake of failed coup

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during an event for foreign investors, in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. Erdogan said, once more blasted unnamed Western countries which he says supported an attempted coup on July 15 which left more than 270 people dead. "The West is supporting terrorism and taking sides with coups." (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, right, meets with the EU Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Jagland said earlier there had been "too little understanding" from Europe about the challenges facing Turkey in the aftermath of a failed July 15 coup. (Hakan Goktepe/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, right, shakes hands with EU Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Jagland said earlier there had been "too little understanding" from Europe about the challenges facing Turkey in the aftermath of a failed July 15 coup. (Hakan Goktepe/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

The head of the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights organization, is visiting Turkey for talks with the country's leadership and opposition officials — the first high-ranking European official to do so after the attempted July 15 coup.

Thorbjorn Jagland arrived in Ankara Wednesday and was to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, the ministers of foreign affairs and justice, and the heads of opposition parties.

Erdogan has blasted Western allies for what he says is a lack of clear support for the government in the wake of the failed putsch, which killed more than 270 people. On Wednesday, he accused the West of siding with terrorism and noted no European leaders had visited Turkey to express support after the coup.