World leaders including US President Barack Obama have strongly condemned the attempted putsch but also urged Turkey to respect the “rule of law” in its aftermath, especially after pictures emerged showing the rough treatment of some coup plotters when arrested.
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Gulen has denied any involvement or knowledge about the attempted coup.
“We will continue to clean the virus from all state bodies because this virus has spread”.
Mr Bozdag said: “The United States would weaken itself by protecting him”.
Rebel soldiers used tanks, attack helicopters and fighter jets to try to topple Erdogan on Friday night, strafing parliament and the intelligence headquarters in Ankara while seizing a bridge and surrounding the airport in Istanbul.
The General Staff also praised the efforts of the “heroes” of the Turkish Armed Forces and police forces, who it said gave a “prompt and resolute response” to the coup attempt of “terrorist traitors embedded within the Turkish army who belonged to an illegal organization”.
Turkish authorities have rounded up almost 3000 suspected military plotters and ordered thousands of judges to be detained after thwarting a coup by rebels using tanks and attack helicopters to try to topple President Tayyip Erdogan.
But the 62-year-old leader successfully mobilized supporters into the streets to face down the plotters. “We will not leave the squares. but we will continue defiantly”, said Mr Erdogan.
Turkish television has shown images of captured suspects forced to lie face down on the tarmac after their arrest while AFP photographers have seen suspects roughly led away pursued by angry mobs.
NTV television said 34 generals of various grades had been detained so far, including several senior army commanders.
“I would not expect a major impact, the way we saw a rush to safe assets after Brexit, but there will be questions raised about Turkey’s role”, said Keith Wade, chief economist at asset management company Schroders.
Chanting, dancing and waving flags, tens of thousands of Turks marched through the streets into the early hours Sunday in half a dozen cities after officials urged them to defend democracy and back Erdogan, Turkey’s top politician for 13 years.
But Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said on Sunday that operations against the Islamic State group had resumed from the base.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would entertain an extradition request for Gulen, but Turkey would have to present “legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny”.
‘There is a slight chance, there is a possibility that it could be a staged coup, ‘ Gulen told reporters through a translator in Pennsylvania, where he resides.
In an unusual show of unity, Turkey’s four main political parties released a joint declaration denouncing the coup attempt, as did Turkey’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies, including President Barack Obama.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault warned Erdogan against using the failed putsch as a “blank cheque” to silence his opponents.
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Erdogan’s office said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is supporting “Turkey’s elected government”.
