(VOVworld) - Turkey expects to complete a dossier in up to 10 days requesting the extradition from the US of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday. Gulen, who is exiling in the US, was accused by Turkey of masterminding a failed coup in Turkey in mid July. Foreign Minister Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV that the link between soldiers involved in the July 15 coup and Gulen's network of followers was "very clear", adding that Turkey will do all it can "politically and legally" to secure Gulen’s extradition.
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US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose followers Turkey blames for a failed coup on July 15th
(Photo: Reuters) |
According to a Turkish official on Saturday, Turkey arrested Hails Hanci, a senior aide to Gulen. Hanci was described as a "right-hand man" of Gulen and responsible for transferring funds to him. Hanci entered Turkey 2 days prior to the failed coup and was caught in the Black Sea province of Trabzon.
Chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak said on Saturday that Turkey had freed 1,200 soldiers detained after the failed military coup in its first major release of suspects. After the coup, thousands of people were detained, suspended at work, sacked, for investigated.