ISTANBUL, July 20 (Reuters) - Turkey's education ministry has shut down 626 institutions as part of a crackdown on supporters of a U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by the government of masterminding a failed military coup, a ministry official said on Wednesday.

A majority of the institutions are private educational establishments, the official added.

The cleric, Fethullah Gulen, set up a large network of schools in Turkey and abroad over decades which have been used to fund his movement and promote his religious teachings.

The announcement is the latest in a flurry of moves by the Turkish authorities targeting suspected Gulen supporters in state institutions following the July 15 abortive coup, in which at least 230 people were killed. (Reporting by Istanbul bureau; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by David Dolan)

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