Turkey makes official request to US for arrest of cleric blamed for orchestrating failed coup

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Turkey has made its first formal request to the US demanding the arrest of an exiled cleric it accuses of orchestrating a failed military coup.

The justice ministry told state media a written request had been sent to counterparts in Washington alleging that Fethullah Gulen “gave the orders and commanded” the attempt to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sparking violence that left an estimated 300 people dead.

The Turkish government blames supporters of Gulen’s Hizmet movement for the turmoil in July, which saw rogue soldiers commandeer tanks and fighters jets, bombing parliament and seizing bridges before being crushed by loyalist troops.

The attempted coup has been followed by a wave of crackdowns and purges seeing thousands of soldiers, public officials, teachers and journalists arrested or suspended from their posts, sparking international alarm.

Turkey has made several calls for the US to extradite Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, and made its latest request on Tuesday.

American officials have so far refused, citing a lack of evidence, while Gulen and his supporters have denied any involvement.

Mr Erdogan discussed the issue with Barack Obama at the G20 summit in China earlier this month, with a US official saying the President considered the issue a legal, not a political one.

During a meeting with Vice-President Joe Biden, Mr Erdogan said the refusal to arrest Gulen was a violation of an extradition agreement between the two countries.

“These types of people should at least be detained, arrested and kept under surveillance,” he said. “Yet that individual is still directing his terrorist organisation from his whereabouts.”

Gulen was an ally of the Turkish President until 2013, when a feud started over a corruption scandal also blamed on the Hizmet movement.

Gulen has repeatedly denied allegations of plots to unseat Mr Erdogan’s government.

Additional reporting by agencies