Turkish Airlines said today it had fired 211 employees over suspected links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and behaviour &quot;conflicting with the interest of our country&quot; in the wake of last week&#39;s coup. 
 
The flag carrier said their contracts were terminated due to &quot;the non-fulfillment of performance criteria and in line with the necessary actions we are taking against the FETO structure, attitudes and behaviour conflicting with the interest of our country and company&quot;. 
 
The authorities accuse 75-year-old Gulen of running a group it labels the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) that was behind the coup, and Ankara has demanded that Washington extradite him. 
 
The preacher, who lives in a secluded compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. 
 
In a statement signed by the airline&#39;s media relations unit, Turkish Airlines stressed that it stands &quot;united with all of the heroic and honourable Turkish people&quot; against the coup plotters&#39; &quot;malevolent illegal attempt&quot;. 
 
&quot;Under any circumstances, we have and will continue to fulfil our responsibility to contribute to democracy.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The state-run airlines suspects fired employees had links with US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen

Turkish Airlines said today it had fired 211 employees over suspected links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and behaviour "conflicting with the interest of our country" in the wake of last week's coup. The flag carrier said their contracts were terminated due to "the non-fulfillment of performance criteria and in line with the necessary actions we are taking against the FETO structure, attitudes and behaviour conflicting with the interest of our country and company". The authorities accuse 75-year-old Gulen of running a group it labels the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) that was behind the coup, and Ankara has demanded that Washington extradite him. The preacher, who lives in a secluded compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. In a statement signed by the airline's media relations unit, Turkish Airlines stressed that it stands "united with all of the heroic and honourable Turkish people" against the coup plotters' "malevolent illegal attempt". "Under any circumstances, we have and will continue to fulfil our responsibility to contribute to democracy." (AFP)

Turkish Airlines sacks 211 employees for 'involvement' in coup bid

Turkey ordered the detention of 42 journalists today, broadcaster NTV reported, under a crackdown following a failed coup that has targeted more than 60,000 people, drawing fire from the European Union (EU). 
 
The arrests or suspensions of soldiers, police, judges and civil servants in response to the July 15-16 putsch have raised concerns among rights groups and Western countries, who fear President Tayyip Erdogan is capitalising on it to tighten his grip on power. 
 
EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker questioned Ankara&#39;s long-standing aspiration to join the EU. 
 
&quot;I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period,&quot; Juncker said on French television France 2. 
 
Juncker also said that if Turkey reintroduces the death penalty - something the government has said it must consider, responding to calls from supporters at public rallies for the coup leaders to be executed - it would stop the EU accession process immediately. 
 
Turkey abolished capital punishment in 2004, allowing it to open EU accession talks the following year, but the negotiations have made scant progress since then. 
 
Responding to Juncker&#39;s comments, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Haberturk TV that Europe cannot threaten Turkey regarding the death penalty. 
 
Erdogan has declared a state of emergency, which allows him to sign new laws without prior parliamentary approval and limit rights as he deems necessary. 
 
The government has said these steps are needed to root out supporters of the coup and will not infringe on the rights of ordinary Turks. 
 
NTV reported that among the 42 journalists subject to arrest warrants was well-known commentator and former parliamentarian Nazli Ilicak. 
 
State-run Turkish Airlines fired more than 100 employees, including management and cabin crew, Turkish media reported. 
 
Turkey wants US to extradite Gulen&nbsp; 
 
Erdogan has accused US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey, of masterminding the coup plot. In his first decree since the state of emergency was declared, Erdogan ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and foundations with suspected links to Gulen, who denies involvement in the coup. 
 
Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, says the coup may have been orchestrated by Erdogan himself. 
 
Turkey wants the United States to extradite the cleric. Washington has said it will do so only if there is clear evidence. 
 
Foreign minister Cavusoglu said that ties with Washington will be affected if it fails to extradite Gulen. He said he would hold meetings with political and judiciary officials during a coming visit to the United States. 
 
Erdogan has accused Gulen, his former ally, of attempting to build a &quot;parallel network&quot; of supporters within the military, police, judiciary, civil service, education and media with the aim of toppling the state. 
 
&quot;They are traitors,&quot; Erdogan told Reuters in an interview last week. He described Gulen&#39;s network as &quot;like a cancer&quot; and said he would treat them like a &quot;separatist terrorist organisation&quot; and root them out, wherever they may be. 
 
Gulen denies the allegations 
 
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday that authorities had taken around 13,000 people into custody over the coup attempt, including 8,831 soldiers. He promised they would have a fair trial. 
 
Rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of detainees being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, since the coup attempt. 
 
Erdogan has extended the maximum period of detention for suspects from four days to 30, a move Amnesty said increased the risk of torture or other maltreatment of detainees. 
 
The government has said there would be no backtracking on human rights and has ruled out torture and curfews in the state of emergency. 
 
Ankara&#39;s frustration 
 
Ankara is increasingly expressing frustration over what it says in the lack of solidarity from Western partners in the aftermath of the coup. 
 
Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, but have also expressed concern over the scale of subsequent purges of state institutions. 
 
Last week, the minister for EU affairs chided Western countries for not sending any representatives to demonstrate their solidarity with Turkey since the failed coup. 
 
On Sunday, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin took to the opinion pages of the New York Times to defend Turkey&#39;s actions. 
 
&quot;Several thousand military officers and their accomplices in law enforcement and the judiciary have been suspended or arrested for having links to the coup. Their removal from public posts makes the Turkish government stronger and more transparent,&quot; he wrote, adding that at least 1,200 rank-and-file soldiers have been released so far. 
 
He also dismissed claims that Erdogan had orchestrated the coup in order to launch a crackdown. 
 
&quot;The claim that this was a fake coup is no more credible than the laughable claim that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by the United States.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in response to Ankara's crackdown said in its current state, it is not in a position to join EU

Turkey ordered the detention of 42 journalists today, broadcaster NTV reported, under a crackdown following a failed coup that has targeted more than 60,000 people, drawing fire from the European Union (EU). The arrests or suspensions of soldiers, police, judges and civil servants in response to the July 15-16 putsch have raised concerns among rights groups and Western countries, who fear President Tayyip Erdogan is capitalising on it to tighten his grip on power. EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker questioned Ankara's long-standing aspiration to join the EU. "I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period," Juncker said on French television France 2. Juncker also said that if Turkey reintroduces the death penalty - something the government has said it must consider, responding to calls from supporters at public rallies for the coup leaders to be executed - it would stop the EU accession process immediately. Turkey abolished capital punishment in 2004, allowing it to open EU accession talks the following year, but the negotiations have made scant progress since then. Responding to Juncker's comments, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Haberturk TV that Europe cannot threaten Turkey regarding the death penalty. Erdogan has declared a state of emergency, which allows him to sign new laws without prior parliamentary approval and limit rights as he deems necessary. The government has said these steps are needed to root out supporters of the coup and will not infringe on the rights of ordinary Turks. NTV reported that among the 42 journalists subject to arrest warrants was well-known commentator and former parliamentarian Nazli Ilicak. State-run Turkish Airlines fired more than 100 employees, including management and cabin crew, Turkish media reported. Turkey wants US to extradite Gulen Erdogan has accused US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey, of masterminding the coup plot. In his first decree since the state of emergency was declared, Erdogan ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and foundations with suspected links to Gulen, who denies involvement in the coup. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, says the coup may have been orchestrated by Erdogan himself. Turkey wants the United States to extradite the cleric. Washington has said it will do so only if there is clear evidence. Foreign minister Cavusoglu said that ties with Washington will be affected if it fails to extradite Gulen. He said he would hold meetings with political and judiciary officials during a coming visit to the United States. Erdogan has accused Gulen, his former ally, of attempting to build a "parallel network" of supporters within the military, police, judiciary, civil service, education and media with the aim of toppling the state. "They are traitors," Erdogan told Reuters in an interview last week. He described Gulen's network as "like a cancer" and said he would treat them like a "separatist terrorist organisation" and root them out, wherever they may be. Gulen denies the allegations Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday that authorities had taken around 13,000 people into custody over the coup attempt, including 8,831 soldiers. He promised they would have a fair trial. Rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of detainees being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, since the coup attempt. Erdogan has extended the maximum period of detention for suspects from four days to 30, a move Amnesty said increased the risk of torture or other maltreatment of detainees. The government has said there would be no backtracking on human rights and has ruled out torture and curfews in the state of emergency. Ankara's frustration Ankara is increasingly expressing frustration over what it says in the lack of solidarity from Western partners in the aftermath of the coup. Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, but have also expressed concern over the scale of subsequent purges of state institutions. Last week, the minister for EU affairs chided Western countries for not sending any representatives to demonstrate their solidarity with Turkey since the failed coup. On Sunday, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin took to the opinion pages of the New York Times to defend Turkey's actions. "Several thousand military officers and their accomplices in law enforcement and the judiciary have been suspended or arrested for having links to the coup. Their removal from public posts makes the Turkish government stronger and more transparent," he wrote, adding that at least 1,200 rank-and-file soldiers have been released so far. He also dismissed claims that Erdogan had orchestrated the coup in order to launch a crackdown. "The claim that this was a fake coup is no more credible than the laughable claim that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by the United States." (Reuters)

EU furious as Turkey detains 42 journalists after coup bid

President Barack Obama on Friday denied any US role in Turkey&#39;s failed coup and insisted that an extradition request for a US-based Muslim cleric accused of orchestrating the putsch would have to go through normal channels. 
 
Obama, speaking at a news conference, said he told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a call earlier this week that the United States had no prior knowledge of the abortive coup. 
 
&quot;Any reports that we had any previous knowledge of a coup attempt, that there was any US involvement in it, that we were anything other than entirely supportive of Turkish democracy are completely false, unequivocally false,&quot; Obama said. 
 
&quot;He (Erdogan) needs to make sure that, not just he but everybody in his government, understands that those reports are completely false,&quot; Obama added. &quot;Because when rumours like that start swirling around, that puts our people at risk on the ground in Turkey and it threatens what is a critical alliance and partnership between the United States and Turkey.&quot; 
 
Reports of US involvement in the coup attempt, which were also denied earlier this week by the US ambassador to Turkey, appear to be partly fuelled by the fact that cleric Fethullah Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania&#39;s Pocono Mountains. 
 
Erdogan accuses Gulen, a charismatic former ally, of masterminding the plot against him. In a crackdown on Gulen&#39;s suspected followers, more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and teachers have been suspended, detained or placed under investigation. 
 
Gulen has condemned the attempted coup and denied any involvement in it. 
 
Obama, reiterating what US officials had said earlier this week, said he told Erdogan his government must first present evidence of Gulen&#39;s alleged complicity in the failed coup. An extradition request would then receive the review required by the Justice Department and other government agencies just like any other petition. 
 
&quot;America&#39;s governed by rules of law, and those are not ones that the president of the United States or anybody else can just set aside for the sake of expediency,&quot; Obama said. &quot;We&#39;ve got to go through a legal process.&quot; 
 
Serdar Kilic, the Turkish ambassador to the United States, told a news conference on Friday that his country had submitted the &quot;necessary documentation&quot; for Gulen&#39;s extradition. But US Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said he could not yet give a &quot;hard yes or no&quot; on whether the materials submitted by Turkey constituted a formal extradition request. 
 
(Reuters)

Reports of US involvement in the failed coup is fuelled by the fact that cleric Fethullah Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania

President Barack Obama on Friday denied any US role in Turkey's failed coup and insisted that an extradition request for a US-based Muslim cleric accused of orchestrating the putsch would have to go through normal channels. Obama, speaking at a news conference, said he told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a call earlier this week that the United States had no prior knowledge of the abortive coup. "Any reports that we had any previous knowledge of a coup attempt, that there was any US involvement in it, that we were anything other than entirely supportive of Turkish democracy are completely false, unequivocally false," Obama said. "He (Erdogan) needs to make sure that, not just he but everybody in his government, understands that those reports are completely false," Obama added. "Because when rumours like that start swirling around, that puts our people at risk on the ground in Turkey and it threatens what is a critical alliance and partnership between the United States and Turkey." Reports of US involvement in the coup attempt, which were also denied earlier this week by the US ambassador to Turkey, appear to be partly fuelled by the fact that cleric Fethullah Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. Erdogan accuses Gulen, a charismatic former ally, of masterminding the plot against him. In a crackdown on Gulen's suspected followers, more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and teachers have been suspended, detained or placed under investigation. Gulen has condemned the attempted coup and denied any involvement in it. Obama, reiterating what US officials had said earlier this week, said he told Erdogan his government must first present evidence of Gulen's alleged complicity in the failed coup. An extradition request would then receive the review required by the Justice Department and other government agencies just like any other petition. "America's governed by rules of law, and those are not ones that the president of the United States or anybody else can just set aside for the sake of expediency," Obama said. "We've got to go through a legal process." Serdar Kilic, the Turkish ambassador to the United States, told a news conference on Friday that his country had submitted the "necessary documentation" for Gulen's extradition. But US Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said he could not yet give a "hard yes or no" on whether the materials submitted by Turkey constituted a formal extradition request. (Reuters)

US had no hand in Turkey coup: President Obama

President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup.&nbsp;A restructuring of Turkey&#39;s once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward. 
 
In the decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this was to facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt.&nbsp;Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the July 15 coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday he would restructure the armed forces and bring in &quot;fresh blood&quot;. 
 
Turkey&#39;s Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan&#39;s supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the government&#39;s control. 
 
Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting, which usually takes place every August, will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff. 
 
Erdogan has accused US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey and abroad, of masterminding the failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup. 
 
PURGES 
 
Erdogan declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup. 
 
The state of emergency allows the president and government to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also allows them to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. 
 
Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations. 
 
The first decree signed by Erdogan authorises the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said. 
 
Parliament must still approve the decree but requires only a simply majority, which the ruling AK Party founded by Erdogan and in power in Turkey since 2002 commands. 
 
In an address to lawmakers late on Friday Erdogan vowed to bring to justice supporters of the Gulenist &quot;terrorist&quot; movement and he urged Turks to continue attending rallies in major cities in support of democracy and against the coup plotters. 
 
Turkey expects to complete within a week to 10 days a dossier requesting Gulen&#39;s extradition from the United States, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV in an interview. 
 
Cavusoglu said the link between soldiers involved in the abortive coup and Gulen&#39;s extensive network of followers was &quot;very clear&quot;, adding that Turkey would do all it could &quot;politically and legally&quot; to secure his extradition. 
 
Washington has said Ankara needs to provide clear evidence of Gulen&#39;s involvement before it can agree to extradite him. Lawyers say the process could take many years. 
 
On Friday evening Erdogan held his first meeting since the coup with the head of the national intelligence agency, Hakan Fidan, after complaining of significant intelligence shortcomings ahead of the coup attempt. Despite media speculation, however, he did not sack Fidan. 
 
After the coup Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, a NATO ally and an important partner in the fight against Islamic State, but they have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions. 
 
Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week. 
 
Speaking at a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in China on Saturday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey would strongly adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law. 
 
(Reuters)

The first decree signed by Erdogan authorises the closure of thousands of schools, unions, charities over suspected links to Fethullah Gulen

President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup. A restructuring of Turkey's once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward. In the decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this was to facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt. Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the July 15 coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday he would restructure the armed forces and bring in "fresh blood". Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan's supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the government's control. Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting, which usually takes place every August, will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff. Erdogan has accused US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey and abroad, of masterminding the failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup. PURGES Erdogan declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup. The state of emergency allows the president and government to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also allows them to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations. The first decree signed by Erdogan authorises the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said. Parliament must still approve the decree but requires only a simply majority, which the ruling AK Party founded by Erdogan and in power in Turkey since 2002 commands. In an address to lawmakers late on Friday Erdogan vowed to bring to justice supporters of the Gulenist "terrorist" movement and he urged Turks to continue attending rallies in major cities in support of democracy and against the coup plotters. Turkey expects to complete within a week to 10 days a dossier requesting Gulen's extradition from the United States, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV in an interview. Cavusoglu said the link between soldiers involved in the abortive coup and Gulen's extensive network of followers was "very clear", adding that Turkey would do all it could "politically and legally" to secure his extradition. Washington has said Ankara needs to provide clear evidence of Gulen's involvement before it can agree to extradite him. Lawyers say the process could take many years. On Friday evening Erdogan held his first meeting since the coup with the head of the national intelligence agency, Hakan Fidan, after complaining of significant intelligence shortcomings ahead of the coup attempt. Despite media speculation, however, he did not sack Fidan. After the coup Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, a NATO ally and an important partner in the fight against Islamic State, but they have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions. Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week. Speaking at a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in China on Saturday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey would strongly adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law. (Reuters)

Turkey's Erdogan closes more schools, extends detention without charge period

Turkey vowed to root out allies of the US-based cleric it blames for an abortive coup last week, widening a purge of the army, police and judiciary on Tuesday to universities and schools, the intelligence agency and religious authorities. 
 
Around 50,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and teachers have been suspended or detained since the coup attempt, stirring tensions across the country of 80 million which borders Syria&#39;s chaos, and is a Western ally against Islamic State. 
 
&quot;This parallel terrorist organisation will no longer be an effective pawn for any country,&quot; Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, referring to what the government has long alleged is a state within a state controlled by followers of Fethullah Gulen. 
 
&quot;We will dig them up by their roots,&quot; he told Parliament. 
 
A spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan said the government was preparing a formal request to the United States for the extradition of Gulen, who Turkey says orchestrated the failed military takeover on Friday in which at least 232 people were killed. 
 
US President Barack Obama discussed the status of Gulen in a telephone call with Erdogan on Tuesday, the White House said, urging Ankara to show restraint as it pursues those responsible for the coup attempt. 
 
In parallel talks, US defence secretary Ash Carter and his Turkish counterpart discussed the importance of Turkey&#39;s Incirlik Air Base in the campaign against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the Pentagon said.&nbsp;The base, which is used by Turkish and US forces in the air campaign against Islamic State, has been without power in the days since the failed coup. 
 
Seventy-five-year-old Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania but has a network of supporters within Turkey, has condemned the abortive coup and denied any role in it. 
 
A former ally-turned critic of Erdogan, he suggested the president staged it as an excuse for a crackdown after a steady accumulation of control during 14 years in power. 
 
On Tuesday, authorities shut down media outlets deemed to be supportive of the cleric and said 15,000 people had been suspended from the education ministry along with 100 intelligence officials. A further 492 people were removed from duty at the Religious Affairs Directorate, 257 at the prime minister&#39;s office and 300 at the energy ministry. 
 
The Lira weakened to beyond 3 to the Dollar after state broadcaster TRT said all university deans had been ordered to resign, recalling the sorts of broad purges seen in the wake of successful military coups of the past. 
 
In a sign of international concern, a German official said a serious fissure had opened in Turkey, and he feared fighting would break out within Germany&#39;s large Turkish community. 
 
&quot;A deep split is emerging in Turkish society,&quot; Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper. &quot;The danger of an escalation in violence between Erdogan supporters and opponents has also risen in Germany.&quot; 
 
Double standards 
 
Turkey&#39;s Western allies have expressed solidarity with the government over the coup attempt, but also alarm at the scale and swiftness of the response, urging it to adhere to democratic values. 
 
Prime Minister Yildirim accused Washington, which has said it will consider Gulen&#39;s extradition only if clear evidence is provided, of double standards in its fight against terrorism. 
 
Yildirim said the justice ministry had sent a dossier to US authorities on Gulen, whose religious movement blends conservative Islamic values with a pro-Western outlook and who has a network of supporters within Turkey. 
 
&quot;We have more than enough evidence, more than you could ask for, on Gulen,&quot; justice minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters outside Parliament. &quot;There is no need to prove the coup attempt, all evidence shows that the coup attempt was organised on his will and orders.&quot; 
 
White House spokesman Josh Earnest confirmed Ankara had filed materials in electronic form with the US government, which officials were reviewing. Any extradition request from Turkey, once submitted, would be evaluated under the terms of a treaty between the two countries, he added. 
 
This treaty excludes offences &quot;of a political character&quot; although it does cover those &quot;committed or attempted against a head of state or a head of government&quot;. 
 
Any extradition request would face legal and political hurdles in the United States. Even if approved by a judge, it would still have to go to secretary of state John Kerry, who can consider non-legal factors, such as humanitarian arguments. 
 
&quot;I urge the US government to reject any effort to abuse the extradition process to carry out political vendettas,&quot; Gulen said on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Alliance for Shared Values, a group associated with the cleric. 
 
Turkey&#39;s deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters that 9,322 people were under legal proceedings in relation to the attempted coup.&nbsp;Eight soldiers have sought asylum in neighbouring Greece, and Turkey says they must be handed back or it will not help relations between the neighbours, which have long been uneasy. 
 
Around 1,400 people were wounded as soldiers commandeered tanks, attack helicopters and warplanes, strafing Parliament and the intelligence headquarters and trying to seize the main airport and bridges in Istanbul. 
 
The army general staff said it would punish &quot;in the most severe way&quot; any members of the armed forces responsible for what it called &quot;this disgrace&quot;, adding that most had nothing to do with the coup. 
 
Death penalty centre stage 
 
Some Western leaders expressed concern that Erdogan, who said he was almost killed or captured by the mutineers, was using the opportunity to consolidate power and further a process of stifling dissent. 
 
UN high commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra&#39;ad Al Hussein, voiced &quot;serious alarm&quot; on Tuesday at the mass suspension of judges and prosecutors and urged Turkey to allow independent monitors to visit those who have been detained. 
 
The foreign ministry has said criticism of the government&#39;s response amounts to backing the coup.&nbsp;Turkey scrapped capital punishment in 2004 as part of its push to join the European Union, and European leaders have warned Ankara that restoring it would derail its EU aspirations.&nbsp;But in the aftermath of the coup, Erdogan has repeatedly called for Parliament to consider his supporters&#39; demands to apply the death penalty for the plotters. 
 
Yildirim said Turkey would respect the rule of law and not be driven by revenge in prosecuting suspected coup plotters. Speaking alongside the leader of the main secularist opposition Republican People&#39;s Party (CHP), he said the country must avoid the risk that some people try to exploit the current situation. 
 
&quot;We need unity...and brotherhood now,&quot; he said. 
 
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a right-wing grouping and the smallest of the three opposition parties represented in parliament, said it would back the government if it decides to restore the death penalty. 
 
More than 6,000 soldiers and around 1,500 others have been detained since the abortive coup. About 8,000 police officers, including in the capital Ankara and the biggest city Istanbul, have been removed on suspicion of links to the plot. 
 
Some 1,500 finance ministry officials have also been removed from their posts. Annual leave has been suspended for more than three million civil servants, while close to 3,000 judges and prosecutors have also been purged. A court remanded 26 generals and admirals in custody on Monday, Turkish media said. 
 
Former air force chief accused 
 
Officials in Ankara say former air force chief Akin Ozturk, who has appeared in detention with his face and arms bruised and one ear bandaged, was a co-leader of the coup. Turkish media said on Monday he had denied this to prosecutors, saying he had tried to prevent the attempted putsch. 
 
The coup crumbled after Erdogan, on holiday with his family at the coastal resort of Marmaris, phoned in to a television news programme and called for his followers to take to the streets. He was able to fly into Istanbul in the early hours of Saturday, after the rebel pilots had his plane in their sights but did not shoot it down. 
 
He said on Monday he might have died if he had left Marmaris any later and that two of his bodyguards had been killed. 
 
The bloodshed shocked the nation, where the army last used force to stage a successful coup more than 30 years ago, and shattered fragile confidence in the stability of a NATO member state already rocked by Islamic State suicide bombings and an insurgency by Kurdish militants. 
 
(Reuters)

Turkey's Western allies have expressed solidarity over the coup attempt, but also alarm at the scale and swiftness of Erdogan's response

Turkey vowed to root out allies of the US-based cleric it blames for an abortive coup last week, widening a purge of the army, police and judiciary on Tuesday to universities and schools, the intelligence agency and religious authorities. Around 50,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and teachers have been suspended or detained since the coup attempt, stirring tensions across the country of 80 million which borders Syria's chaos, and is a Western ally against Islamic State. "This parallel terrorist organisation will no longer be an effective pawn for any country," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, referring to what the government has long alleged is a state within a state controlled by followers of Fethullah Gulen. "We will dig them up by their roots," he told Parliament. A spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan said the government was preparing a formal request to the United States for the extradition of Gulen, who Turkey says orchestrated the failed military takeover on Friday in which at least 232 people were killed. US President Barack Obama discussed the status of Gulen in a telephone call with Erdogan on Tuesday, the White House said, urging Ankara to show restraint as it pursues those responsible for the coup attempt. In parallel talks, US defence secretary Ash Carter and his Turkish counterpart discussed the importance of Turkey's Incirlik Air Base in the campaign against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the Pentagon said. The base, which is used by Turkish and US forces in the air campaign against Islamic State, has been without power in the days since the failed coup. Seventy-five-year-old Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania but has a network of supporters within Turkey, has condemned the abortive coup and denied any role in it. A former ally-turned critic of Erdogan, he suggested the president staged it as an excuse for a crackdown after a steady accumulation of control during 14 years in power. On Tuesday, authorities shut down media outlets deemed to be supportive of the cleric and said 15,000 people had been suspended from the education ministry along with 100 intelligence officials. A further 492 people were removed from duty at the Religious Affairs Directorate, 257 at the prime minister's office and 300 at the energy ministry. The Lira weakened to beyond 3 to the Dollar after state broadcaster TRT said all university deans had been ordered to resign, recalling the sorts of broad purges seen in the wake of successful military coups of the past. In a sign of international concern, a German official said a serious fissure had opened in Turkey, and he feared fighting would break out within Germany's large Turkish community. "A deep split is emerging in Turkish society," Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper. "The danger of an escalation in violence between Erdogan supporters and opponents has also risen in Germany." Double standards Turkey's Western allies have expressed solidarity with the government over the coup attempt, but also alarm at the scale and swiftness of the response, urging it to adhere to democratic values. Prime Minister Yildirim accused Washington, which has said it will consider Gulen's extradition only if clear evidence is provided, of double standards in its fight against terrorism. Yildirim said the justice ministry had sent a dossier to US authorities on Gulen, whose religious movement blends conservative Islamic values with a pro-Western outlook and who has a network of supporters within Turkey. "We have more than enough evidence, more than you could ask for, on Gulen," justice minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters outside Parliament. "There is no need to prove the coup attempt, all evidence shows that the coup attempt was organised on his will and orders." White House spokesman Josh Earnest confirmed Ankara had filed materials in electronic form with the US government, which officials were reviewing. Any extradition request from Turkey, once submitted, would be evaluated under the terms of a treaty between the two countries, he added. This treaty excludes offences "of a political character" although it does cover those "committed or attempted against a head of state or a head of government". Any extradition request would face legal and political hurdles in the United States. Even if approved by a judge, it would still have to go to secretary of state John Kerry, who can consider non-legal factors, such as humanitarian arguments. "I urge the US government to reject any effort to abuse the extradition process to carry out political vendettas," Gulen said on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Alliance for Shared Values, a group associated with the cleric. Turkey's deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters that 9,322 people were under legal proceedings in relation to the attempted coup. Eight soldiers have sought asylum in neighbouring Greece, and Turkey says they must be handed back or it will not help relations between the neighbours, which have long been uneasy. Around 1,400 people were wounded as soldiers commandeered tanks, attack helicopters and warplanes, strafing Parliament and the intelligence headquarters and trying to seize the main airport and bridges in Istanbul. The army general staff said it would punish "in the most severe way" any members of the armed forces responsible for what it called "this disgrace", adding that most had nothing to do with the coup. Death penalty centre stage Some Western leaders expressed concern that Erdogan, who said he was almost killed or captured by the mutineers, was using the opportunity to consolidate power and further a process of stifling dissent. UN high commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, voiced "serious alarm" on Tuesday at the mass suspension of judges and prosecutors and urged Turkey to allow independent monitors to visit those who have been detained. The foreign ministry has said criticism of the government's response amounts to backing the coup. Turkey scrapped capital punishment in 2004 as part of its push to join the European Union, and European leaders have warned Ankara that restoring it would derail its EU aspirations. But in the aftermath of the coup, Erdogan has repeatedly called for Parliament to consider his supporters' demands to apply the death penalty for the plotters. Yildirim said Turkey would respect the rule of law and not be driven by revenge in prosecuting suspected coup plotters. Speaking alongside the leader of the main secularist opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), he said the country must avoid the risk that some people try to exploit the current situation. "We need unity...and brotherhood now," he said. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a right-wing grouping and the smallest of the three opposition parties represented in parliament, said it would back the government if it decides to restore the death penalty. More than 6,000 soldiers and around 1,500 others have been detained since the abortive coup. About 8,000 police officers, including in the capital Ankara and the biggest city Istanbul, have been removed on suspicion of links to the plot. Some 1,500 finance ministry officials have also been removed from their posts. Annual leave has been suspended for more than three million civil servants, while close to 3,000 judges and prosecutors have also been purged. A court remanded 26 generals and admirals in custody on Monday, Turkish media said. Former air force chief accused Officials in Ankara say former air force chief Akin Ozturk, who has appeared in detention with his face and arms bruised and one ear bandaged, was a co-leader of the coup. Turkish media said on Monday he had denied this to prosecutors, saying he had tried to prevent the attempted putsch. The coup crumbled after Erdogan, on holiday with his family at the coastal resort of Marmaris, phoned in to a television news programme and called for his followers to take to the streets. He was able to fly into Istanbul in the early hours of Saturday, after the rebel pilots had his plane in their sights but did not shoot it down. He said on Monday he might have died if he had left Marmaris any later and that two of his bodyguards had been killed. The bloodshed shocked the nation, where the army last used force to stage a successful coup more than 30 years ago, and shattered fragile confidence in the stability of a NATO member state already rocked by Islamic State suicide bombings and an insurgency by Kurdish militants. (Reuters)

Erdogan targets more than 50,000 in purge after failed coup

All political prisoners in Turkey are being denied the right to meet lawyers, family, and make phone calls, said the Mesopotamia Lawyers Association. 
 
In addition, Turkey has banned 72 websites after&nbsp;after a failed coup which targeted the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15.&nbsp;Turkey has also dismissed almost 9,000 officials, including a massive number of police officers,&nbsp;the state-run Anadolu news agency said yesterday citing the interior ministry. 
 
A total of 8,777 public personnel including 7,899 police, one provincial governor and 29 governors of towns have been dismissed, the ministry said.&nbsp;They also include 614 members of the police force that looks after domestic security, it added. 
 
Turkey&#39;s cracked down on coup plotters has left over 290 dead, as President Erdogan pointed the finger of blame at the supporters of US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is believed to wield influence in the police and judiciary. 
 
Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty after the failed attempt to overthrow his government. 
 
&quot;In democracies, decisions are made based on what the people say. I think our government will speak with the opposition and come to a decision,&quot; he said, reacting to crowds in Istanbul calling for capital punishment. 
 
&quot;We cannot delay this anymore because in this country, those who launch a coup will have to pay the price for it,&quot; he told supporters after attending funerals for the putsch victims. 
 
In the aftermath of Friday&#39;s foiled coup, there have been frequent calls from thousands of Erdogan supporters for capital punishment to make a return. 
 
Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 under reforms aimed at obtaining European Union membership. 
 
Reinstatement would create further issues between the EU and Ankara in the already stalled membership talks. 
 
Erdogan repeated calls for the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen, blaming the coup on the US-based Islamic preacher and his followers, which he describes as a terrorist organisation. 
 
Gulen condemned the military uprising &quot;in the strongest terms&quot; in a rare interview with reporters in Pennsylvania and rejected charges of being the coup mastermind, suggesting Erdogan may have staged it himself. 
 
Erdogan earlier broken down in tears at the funeral of his long-time friend, Erol Olcak, and his 16-year-old son who were shot dead on Friday on the Bosphorus bridge. 
 
(Agencies)

Turkey has also banned 72 news websites after?a coup attempt on July 15 targeting the government of President Recep Erdogan failed

All political prisoners in Turkey are being denied the right to meet lawyers, family, and make phone calls, said the Mesopotamia Lawyers Association. In addition, Turkey has banned 72 websites after after a failed coup which targeted the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15. Turkey has also dismissed almost 9,000 officials, including a massive number of police officers, the state-run Anadolu news agency said yesterday citing the interior ministry. A total of 8,777 public personnel including 7,899 police, one provincial governor and 29 governors of towns have been dismissed, the ministry said. They also include 614 members of the police force that looks after domestic security, it added. Turkey's cracked down on coup plotters has left over 290 dead, as President Erdogan pointed the finger of blame at the supporters of US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is believed to wield influence in the police and judiciary. Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty after the failed attempt to overthrow his government. "In democracies, decisions are made based on what the people say. I think our government will speak with the opposition and come to a decision," he said, reacting to crowds in Istanbul calling for capital punishment. "We cannot delay this anymore because in this country, those who launch a coup will have to pay the price for it," he told supporters after attending funerals for the putsch victims. In the aftermath of Friday's foiled coup, there have been frequent calls from thousands of Erdogan supporters for capital punishment to make a return. Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 under reforms aimed at obtaining European Union membership. Reinstatement would create further issues between the EU and Ankara in the already stalled membership talks. Erdogan repeated calls for the United States to extradite Fethullah Gulen, blaming the coup on the US-based Islamic preacher and his followers, which he describes as a terrorist organisation. Gulen condemned the military uprising "in the strongest terms" in a rare interview with reporters in Pennsylvania and rejected charges of being the coup mastermind, suggesting Erdogan may have staged it himself. Erdogan earlier broken down in tears at the funeral of his long-time friend, Erol Olcak, and his 16-year-old son who were shot dead on Friday on the Bosphorus bridge. (Agencies)

'Political prisoners denied the right to meet lawyers, family or make phone calls in Turkey'

More than 15,000 Turkish state education employees have been suspended after last week&#39;s attempted coup, the education ministry said today. 
 
It said in a statement: &quot;15,200 state employees have been suspended and an investigation has been launched into them&quot;. 
 
The ministry said the suspensions were linked to the &quot;Fethullah Terrorist Organisation&quot; (FETO), which is how it labels the loose network of followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a foe of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 
 
Erdogan has laid the blame fully on Gulen and his followers who have strongly denied any links to the putsch. 
 
&quot;There is an investigation into those linked to FETO,&quot; the ministry said, but did not give further details on what kind of employees were suspended. 
 
Meanwhile, the country&#39;s higher education board demanded that 1,577 deans at universities resign, state-run news agency Anadolu reported today. 
 
Among the deans, 1,176 are from state universities, while 401 deans work at private foundation universities, Anadolu said. 
 
Since the failed putsch on Friday, about 9,000, including police and government officials, have been sacked. 
 
Another 7,500 have been detained including top generals accused of masterminding the plot. 
 
(AFP)

The education ministry said the suspensions were linked to the so-called 'Fethullah Terrorist Organisation' of a US-based Muslim cleric

More than 15,000 Turkish state education employees have been suspended after last week's attempted coup, the education ministry said today. It said in a statement: "15,200 state employees have been suspended and an investigation has been launched into them". The ministry said the suspensions were linked to the "Fethullah Terrorist Organisation" (FETO), which is how it labels the loose network of followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a foe of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has laid the blame fully on Gulen and his followers who have strongly denied any links to the putsch. "There is an investigation into those linked to FETO," the ministry said, but did not give further details on what kind of employees were suspended. Meanwhile, the country's higher education board demanded that 1,577 deans at universities resign, state-run news agency Anadolu reported today. Among the deans, 1,176 are from state universities, while 401 deans work at private foundation universities, Anadolu said. Since the failed putsch on Friday, about 9,000, including police and government officials, have been sacked. Another 7,500 have been detained including top generals accused of masterminding the plot. (AFP)

Turkey coup: 15,000 education staff suspended

Turkey has dismissed almost 9,000 officials, including a massive number of police officers, after a failed coup targeting the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the state-run Anadolu news agency said citing the interior ministry. 
 
A total of 8,777 public personnel including 7,899 police, one provincial governor and 29 governors of towns have been dismissed, the ministry said.&nbsp;They also include 614 members of the police force that looks after domestic security, it added. 
 
Turkey has cracked down on coup plotters that left over 290 dead, as Erdogan pointed the finger of blame at the supporters of US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is believed to wield influence in the police and judiciary. 
 
(AFP)

A total of 8,777 public personnel, including 7,899 police, one provincial governor and 29 governors of towns, have been dismissed

Turkey has dismissed almost 9,000 officials, including a massive number of police officers, after a failed coup targeting the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the state-run Anadolu news agency said citing the interior ministry. A total of 8,777 public personnel including 7,899 police, one provincial governor and 29 governors of towns have been dismissed, the ministry said. They also include 614 members of the police force that looks after domestic security, it added. Turkey has cracked down on coup plotters that left over 290 dead, as Erdogan pointed the finger of blame at the supporters of US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is believed to wield influence in the police and judiciary. (AFP)

Turkey dismisses almost 9,000 officials after failed coup

What was once a marriage of convenience has become a bitter and damaging fight between two men that threatens to damage Turkish democracy and change its face forever. 
 
When a group within Turkeys military launched a coup on Friday night, Recep Tayyip Erdogan wasted little time in blaming Fethullah Gulen and his followers, which he describes as a terrorist organisation. 
 
Gulen, an Islamic preacher and former imam, is the spiritual leader of the moderate Islamic Hizmet movement that spans dozens of countries. He has firmly denied any involvement. 
 
His soft power in Turkey with thousands of followers, often called Gulenists by their opponents, offered Erdogan a base of supporters during the early years of his premiership from 2003. 
 
The two men&#39;s divorce in 2013 is often blamed on Erdogans efforts to reconcile with the Kurds in the south-east and his crackdown on the schools run by the movement called dershanes where students get extra help to pass the university entrance exam. 
 
The authorites detested the Gulen-run school system, fearing it was creating thousands of bright but loyal students who would take top positions in the police and judiciary. 
 
They also saw Gulens hand in the 2013 protests over the Gezi Park development in Istanbul, which snowballed into anti-government demonstrations across the country. 
 
With Erdogan now pressing the United States to extradite Gulen in the wake of the coup, their falling-out has now taken on an international dimension that could damage Washington-Ankara ties. 
 
According to Anthony Skinner, head of political risk at Verisk Maplecroft consultancy, the two mens friendship was based on challenging the control by the then secular establishment. 
 
The two groups wanted to weaken the military which had prior to Friday conducted three successful coups and forced the then-government out of office in 1997. 
 
&quot;They wanted greater control of the state. This was a burning priority for both the ruling AKP and the movement.&quot; Once in charge of the country, Skinner said there was a greater struggle for power, with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) having the upper hand. 
 
Gulenists became antagonised when AKP began to taste greater success in elections, said the analyst, especially over Erdogans rule and efforts towards forging a peace deal with the PKK (Kurdistan Worker&#39;s Party). 
 
&quot;We saw friction over the engagement with the PKK and the peace process,&quot; he said, noting it was the pro-Gulen press who in 2013 broke the news on secret talks between the two sides. 
 
Gulenists at the time said they supported peace but had concerns about the approach, Skinner said. 
 
But critics say they had concerns over the threat to their network and influence in the Kurdish southeast.The alliance unravelled in 2013 as Erdogan closed dershanes affiliated to Gulen. 
 
But the gauntlet was really thrown down in December 2013 with a massive corruption scandal that threatened to engulf Erdogan. 
 
Three government ministers were forced to resign over the affair which the government described as a Gulen-inspired coup attempt. 
 
Since the investigation, the two appear to have been involved in tit-for-tat attacks with social media leaks of alleged recordings of Erdogan and allies exposing corruption within the government, which they denied vehemently. 
 
The Erdogan government has purged thousands of officers within the police and army as well as members of the judiciary accused of having links to the preacher. 
 
Gulen-linked media organisations were also raided in March including the Zaman newspaper and the Cihan news agency. Authorities then brought in state administrators. 
 
Experts say there are Gulenist elements within the army but it is not possible to speculate on what links he could have to the plot. 
 
Natalie Martin, lecturer in politics and international relations at Nottingham Trent University, asked: &quot;Is it a Gulenist faction within the military? Possibly, but that seems a little bit too easy,&quot; she told AFP. 
 
For Skinner, it is unlikely Gulen ordered the coup because of the risk of extradition among other issues, but said supporters within the army could have conducted the putsch on Friday. 
 
But he too added: &quot;It is too early to tell.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The fall out is often blamed on Erdogan's efforts to reconcile with the Kurds in the south-east and his crackdown on Gulen-run school system

What was once a marriage of convenience has become a bitter and damaging fight between two men that threatens to damage Turkish democracy and change its face forever. When a group within Turkeys military launched a coup on Friday night, Recep Tayyip Erdogan wasted little time in blaming Fethullah Gulen and his followers, which he describes as a terrorist organisation. Gulen, an Islamic preacher and former imam, is the spiritual leader of the moderate Islamic Hizmet movement that spans dozens of countries. He has firmly denied any involvement. His soft power in Turkey with thousands of followers, often called Gulenists by their opponents, offered Erdogan a base of supporters during the early years of his premiership from 2003. The two men's divorce in 2013 is often blamed on Erdogans efforts to reconcile with the Kurds in the south-east and his crackdown on the schools run by the movement called dershanes where students get extra help to pass the university entrance exam. The authorites detested the Gulen-run school system, fearing it was creating thousands of bright but loyal students who would take top positions in the police and judiciary. They also saw Gulens hand in the 2013 protests over the Gezi Park development in Istanbul, which snowballed into anti-government demonstrations across the country. With Erdogan now pressing the United States to extradite Gulen in the wake of the coup, their falling-out has now taken on an international dimension that could damage Washington-Ankara ties. According to Anthony Skinner, head of political risk at Verisk Maplecroft consultancy, the two mens friendship was based on challenging the control by the then secular establishment. The two groups wanted to weaken the military which had prior to Friday conducted three successful coups and forced the then-government out of office in 1997. "They wanted greater control of the state. This was a burning priority for both the ruling AKP and the movement." Once in charge of the country, Skinner said there was a greater struggle for power, with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) having the upper hand. Gulenists became antagonised when AKP began to taste greater success in elections, said the analyst, especially over Erdogans rule and efforts towards forging a peace deal with the PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party). "We saw friction over the engagement with the PKK and the peace process," he said, noting it was the pro-Gulen press who in 2013 broke the news on secret talks between the two sides. Gulenists at the time said they supported peace but had concerns about the approach, Skinner said. But critics say they had concerns over the threat to their network and influence in the Kurdish southeast.The alliance unravelled in 2013 as Erdogan closed dershanes affiliated to Gulen. But the gauntlet was really thrown down in December 2013 with a massive corruption scandal that threatened to engulf Erdogan. Three government ministers were forced to resign over the affair which the government described as a Gulen-inspired coup attempt. Since the investigation, the two appear to have been involved in tit-for-tat attacks with social media leaks of alleged recordings of Erdogan and allies exposing corruption within the government, which they denied vehemently. The Erdogan government has purged thousands of officers within the police and army as well as members of the judiciary accused of having links to the preacher. Gulen-linked media organisations were also raided in March including the Zaman newspaper and the Cihan news agency. Authorities then brought in state administrators. Experts say there are Gulenist elements within the army but it is not possible to speculate on what links he could have to the plot. Natalie Martin, lecturer in politics and international relations at Nottingham Trent University, asked: "Is it a Gulenist faction within the military? Possibly, but that seems a little bit too easy," she told AFP. For Skinner, it is unlikely Gulen ordered the coup because of the risk of extradition among other issues, but said supporters within the army could have conducted the putsch on Friday. But he too added: "It is too early to tell." (AFP)

Erdogan and Gulen: Uneasy allies turned bitter foes

US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen today denied accusations he played a role in the attempted coup in Turkey and said he condemned &quot;in the strongest terms&quot; the attempt to topple the government. 
 
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the government have said that Gulen&#39;s followers in the military were responsible for the attempted take-over on Friday night and today morning. 
 
The government accuses Gulen of trying to create a &quot;parallel structure&quot; in the police, judiciary, media and armed forces, aimed at taking over the state, a charge the cleric denies. 
 
&quot;I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey,&quot; Gulen said in a statement. 
 
&quot;As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations.&quot; 
 
The cleric has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States for years. 
 
US invites Turkey&nbsp; 
 
Secretary of state John Kerry said today that the United States will assist Turkey in the investigation of a failed coup and invited Ankara to share any evidence it has against Fethullah Gulen. 
 
Speaking in Luxembourg, Kerry said Washington had not yet received a formal extradition bid for the expatriate cleric, but added: &quot;We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen.&quot; 
 
Kerry who spoke late Friday to his Turkish opposite number Mevlut Cavusoglu by telephone, said: &quot;We haven&#39;t received any request with respect to Mr Gulen. 
 
&quot;And obviously we invited the government of Turkey as we always do to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments about it appropriately. 
 
And, standing alongside Luxembourg&#39;s foreign minister Jean Asselborn outside the country&#39;s foreign ministry, he added: &quot;I&#39;m confident that there will be some discussion about that.&quot; 
 
(Agencies)

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the government said that Gulen's followers in the military were responsible for the attempted take-over

US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen today denied accusations he played a role in the attempted coup in Turkey and said he condemned "in the strongest terms" the attempt to topple the government. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the government have said that Gulen's followers in the military were responsible for the attempted take-over on Friday night and today morning. The government accuses Gulen of trying to create a "parallel structure" in the police, judiciary, media and armed forces, aimed at taking over the state, a charge the cleric denies. "I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey," Gulen said in a statement. "As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations." The cleric has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States for years. US invites Turkey Secretary of state John Kerry said today that the United States will assist Turkey in the investigation of a failed coup and invited Ankara to share any evidence it has against Fethullah Gulen. Speaking in Luxembourg, Kerry said Washington had not yet received a formal extradition bid for the expatriate cleric, but added: "We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen." Kerry who spoke late Friday to his Turkish opposite number Mevlut Cavusoglu by telephone, said: "We haven't received any request with respect to Mr Gulen. "And obviously we invited the government of Turkey as we always do to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments about it appropriately. And, standing alongside Luxembourg's foreign minister Jean Asselborn outside the country's foreign ministry, he added: "I'm confident that there will be some discussion about that." (Agencies)

US-based cleric Gulen denies Turkey coup charges

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