Erdogan, Turkey Coup: Crackdown toll passes 50,000

Erdogan, Turkey Coup: Crackdown toll passes 50,000

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More than 50,000 people have been rounded up, dismissed or suspended from their jobs by Turkey’s the the aftermath of last week’s failed coup. of authorities

The purge of those widened to comprise the media, university deans and teachers.

The government says they’re allied to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who refuses claims the rebellion was directed by him.

PM Binali Yildirim said the preacher directed a “terrorist organisation”.

“We are going to dig them up by their origins,” he told parliament.

The problem was raised during a phone call between President Erdogan and US President Barack Obama on Tuesday and Turkey is pressing the US to extradite Mr Gulen, the White House said.

“There’s quite strong feeling for his [Gulen’s] participation in this coup attempt. So that is adequate reasons,” said spokesman Ibrahim Kalin.

“I encourage the US government to reject any attempt to abuse the extradition procedure to execute political vendettas,” he said in a statement.