Erdogan: US Refusal to Extradite Gulen Not Contributing to Cooperation

Washington's refusal to extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Ankara for orchestrating the coup attempt in July, does not facilitate bilateral relations, Turkish President Erdogan said.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – The US refusal to extradite US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of organizing the failed coup, would not contribute to the US-Turkish cooperation, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"Our relations with the United States are on the level of strategic partnership and the refusal to extradite Gulen would not contribute to it," Erdogan said, speaking in the Turkish capital.

On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Ankara has accused Gulen and his followers designated as Fethullahist Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) of playing a key role in the failed coup, a charge Gulen has denied.