Local Editor

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that the ties with the US could turn sour unless Washington extradites cleric Fethullah Gulen, who, according to Ankara, is behind the failed coup.

His statement comes ahead of his trip to the US, and he said he would discuss the relations with US officials during the visit.

Washington has repeatedly said that Turkey must give clear evidence of Gulen's link with the attempted coup before discussing any possible extradition. Lawyers have said the process, if launched, may take years.

Cavusoglu also said Turkey may remove some ambassadors linked to the coup attempt.

Cavusoglu warned the EU that it "can't threaten Turkey."

"We're protecting European values. EU officials often say what they think, but when it turns into a threat, it becomes counter-productive."

Since the failed coup on July 15 which saw at least 265 people killed, over 10,000 people had been arrested in Turkey, with the majority of those held by the authorities being military men. Some are also judges and civil servants.

More than 37,500 police staff and civil servants had been suspended, and more than 21,000 teachers had been stripped of their licenses.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team