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More arrests as Turkish leader tightens the noose

The Turkish government has laid the blame for the coup on a movement led by US -based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

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The popular president whose people helped resist the military coup said he did not want to destroy relations with the U.S., but the country should do as they are asked.

More than 1500 university deans have also been ordered to resign and the licences of 21,000 teachers working at private institutions revoked.

Mr Kerry said that he made clear in several phone calls with Turkey’s foreign minister in recent days that mere allegations of wrongdoing against Fethullah Gulen would not meet U.S. extradition requirements.

The ban comes only a day after Turkish officials reportedly sacked more than 15,000 education workers and asked almost 1,500 university deans to resign.

According to official figures from the prime minister’s office, Friday night’s coup attempt left 232 people dead and 1,541 wounded.

Erdogan also said there could be a link between Gulen movement and the pilots who shot down Russian jet in November past year.

“But of course, it will take a parliamentary decision for that to take action in the form of a constitutional measure”, he said, given that Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 as part of its long-standing efforts to join the European Union.

The Turkish government under Erdogan has now arrested, fired or suspended a total of more than 50,000 people in its post-coup d’etat attempt crackdown.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters outside of his residence in Istanbul, Turkey, early July 19, 2016, in this handout photo provided by the Presidential Palace.

The government has accused the 103 generals detained so far for their alleged involvement in the coup attempt of belonging to what the authorities call the Fethullahci Terror Organization, purportedly led by Gulen.

Turkey said Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric, was behind the coup and has demanded his extradition.

Erdogan spoke following a National Security Council and cabinet meeting at the Parliament building in Ankara, which was targeted by bombing during the failed uprising on 15 July.

Turkey’s military is reported to be 640,000 personnel strong.

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Regarding claims of a lack of freedom of the press in Turkey, Erdogan said he has never been anti-media but freedom of expression should never be a weapon.

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