US told to arrest cleric who Turkey's president blames for coup

July 17, 2016 08:33

Declaring his government firmly in control, a defiant Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded the United States arrest or extradite an exiled Islamic cleric he blames for a coup attempt that ended with nearly 200 people dead.

The cleric, Fethullah Gulen, living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, suggested that overthrow and assassination attempts have been staged in the past though he did not directly accuse Erdogan of deliberately plunging Turkey into chaos.

The upheaval exposes deep discontent within the military ranks. But less than 24 hours after a night of violence, questions remained about who was behind it and why they decided to act now. The ramifications of the coup attempt on the political system of a NATO ally and partner in the US fight against Islamic State also remain unclear.

"I call on the United States and President Barack Obama ... (to) either arrest Fethullah Gulen or return him to Turkey," the Turkish president said. "If we are strategic partners or model partners, do what is necessary."

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