Turkey will not compromise with Washington over the extradition of the Islamic cleric it accuses of orchestrating a failed coup, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday, warning of rising anti-Americanism if the United States fails to extradite.
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“The main element improving our relations with the U.S. is the extradition of Gulen, where there is no room for negotiation”, Yildirim was quoted as saying by CNN Turk’s general manager, who was among journalists attending the briefing from Yildirim.
Turkish news agency Dogan reported that the Justice Palace in Caglayan sent police to search the offices of the workers, where they detained the workers and proceeded to the police station for questioning.
According to official figures, more than 35,000 people have been detained so far in the post-coup crackdown against alleged Gulen supporters, although nearly 11,600 have since been released.
In the crackdown since the abortive coup, more than 76,000 civil servants, judges and security force members have been suspended and almost 5,000 dismissed, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday.
Think others should know about this? Turkish officials say they are confronting an internal threat. The United States as well as other world powers have expressed concerns about Mr Erdogan reprisals following the coup.
The U.S. government condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement.
“A list compiled from various departments including the foreign ministry, coast guard, national police and Turkish armed forces will be published in today’s governmental decree and those Gulen members named in the list will lose their qualification as public servants, ” said Kurtulmus, adding those named will also lose the right to use their professional titles.
He said officials are now trying to identify state workers linked to the terrorist organisation. Erdogan blamed the probe on prosecutors linked to Gulen.
“In recent weeks, runaway operatives that successfully reached Iraq have been accompanied by PKK elements on the ground”, the officer said.
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Ankara has accused Gulen of being behind the failed coup. Several military attaches are also on the run after refusing to return home.
