A Turkish court has sentenced two former military officers to life in prison, in the first convictions over July’s failed military coup.

The colonel and major were convicted of attempting to abolish Turkey’s “constitutional order”, the state-run Anadolu Agency said.

The two defendants have denied the accusation.

Turkey coup - 60 dead in 'act of treason' against the government

The troops are expected to be the first in a long line of suspects handed heavy sentences for their roles in the uprising.

Ex-Col Murat Kocak and ex-Maj Murat Yilmaz were on duty at Erzurum’s gendarmerie command – which used to be part of the army – during the unsuccessful putsch.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime blames the military action on US-based Imam Fethullah Gülen, and since the coup has embarked on a radical mission to purge enemies of the administration from public life.

According to the Anadolu Agency, more than 41,000 people have been arrested over suspected links to the exiled Islamic preacher.

Yet the true figure may be far higher, with some reports claiming there more than 70,000 have been arrested and imprisoned.

The number of arrestees is in addition to more than 100,000 judges, police officers, journalists, academics and teachers, along with other public officials.

In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People demonstrate in front of the Republic Monument at the Taksim Square in Istanbul Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters

The extend of the crackdown has been met with concern from the international community, particularly since President Erdogan has said he is considering bringing back the death penalty for the perpetrators of the putsch.

Trials of those charged are expected to continue for months.

In December, the high-profile trail of 29 Turkish police officers began who are accused of failing to defend President Erdogan during the attempted coup.