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Erdogan, Obama discuss Gullen’s extradition after Friday’s failed coup

“Universities have always been crucial for military juntas in Turkey and certain individuals are believed to be in contact with cells within the military”, the official said, explaining the goal of the ban was to keep any professors involved in Friday’s attempted overthrow from leaving the country. More than ever Turkey needs freedom of speech, public and open debate, as advocated by its strong university sector, committed to internationally recogniszd university values, the principles of academic freedom, free expression and freedom of association.

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During the conversation, Erdogan told Obama that proper punishment would be given to those responsible within the framework of justice and the rule of law.

Earlier Erdogan lashed out at critics of his sweeping purges, telling France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault – who had warned the Turkish leader not to use the failed coup as a “blank cheque” to silence his opponents – to “mind his own business”.

In the wake of the failed Turkish coup, new questions are being raised about the safety of US nuclear weapons stored in that country.

A US-based cleric accused of orchestrating Turkey’s abortive coup may be able to remain in the United States (US) for years even if Turkey asks for his extradition, lawyers with experience in extradition proceedings said.

“That’s the process that will follow”, he said.

Clauses about “political offenses” are widespread in extradition treaties, and the idea behind them was to protect people “who justly fought back against their government oppressors to secure political change”, US Circuit Judge Karen Williams wrote in a 2007 ruling about an extradition to Peru.

The President praised the reactions to the coup attempt, in which 246 people died and 1,536 were wounded.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Ankara today to chair a crunch security meeting in Ankara for the first time since the failed coup, with tens of thousands either detained or sacked from their jobs in a widening purge.

“Declaring state of emergency aims to take steps for eliminating the risk posed against our citizens’ rights and freedoms, democracy, state of law in our country, in the most efficient and rapid way”, Erdogan said. Dozens of senior military and police personnel, including generals, are no longer in place to determine security policy.

The moves also amplified global concern President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was using the coup plot as a pretext to crack down on opponents.

Turkey’s state-run news agency says Turkish jets have carried out cross-border strikes against Kurdish rebel positions in northern Iraq, killing 20 alleged militants.

“This parallel terrorist organization 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 should be concerned about the real coup that we are witnessing right now”.

Regarding Turkey’s demand that Gulen be extradited, Yildirim compared the situation to the US hunt for Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attacks.

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Kalin also said the number of people detained is high – and may rise further – because of the scale of the plot.

Turkey coup: Crackdown toll passes 45000