More than 2,800 rebels have been detained after failed coup that killed at least 250 and wounded more than 1,500

overnment should be won by 'free and fair elections'


Turkey's president has urged President Barack Obama to arrest the Pennsylvania-based cleric who is accused of orchestrating last night's failed coup.

Fethullah Gulen has been blamed for the failed coup attempt that killed at least 250 people and wounded more than 1,500.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government is blaming the chaos on Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania and promotes the moderate Hizmet Islamic movement that advocates democracy and secular institutions and is popular with Turkey's upper classes.

Gulen has denied any involvement in the uprising and harshly condemned the attempted coup by military officers that resulted in a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire.

The Obama administration said it would entertain an extradition request for Gulen if Turkey's government can prove Gulen's wrongdoing, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday.

The 75-year-old cleric left Turkey in 1999 just ahead of a treason charge.

'I call on the United States and President Barack Obama,' Erdogan said in Istanbul late Saturday, according to the New York Times.

'Dear Mr President: I told you this before. Either arrest Fethullah Gulen or return him to Turkey.

'You didn't listen. I call on you again, after there was a coup attempt. Extradite this man in Pennsylvania to Turkey. If we are strategic partners or model partners, do what is necessary.'

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) has urged President Barack Obama to arrest the Pennsylvania-based cleric, who is accused of orchestrating last night's uprising

Fethullah Gulen has been blamed for the failed coup attempt by military officials that killed at least 250 people and wounded 1,500 more. People are pictured kicking a soldier who participated in the coup on Istanbul's Bosporus Bridge on Saturday

Gulen (pictured) has been blamed for the failed coup attempt by military officials, but he has denied any involvement in the uprising and harshly condemned the attempted coup that resulted in a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire

Erdogan has called on the U.S. to arrest Gulen, while the State Department said it would entertain a request to extradite him provided Turkey can prove his guilt in inciting the failed coup

Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in a Pennsylvania mansion and supports the moderate Hizmet Islamic movement that advocates democracy and secular institutions

The 75-year-old cleric left Turkey in 1999 just ahead of a treason charge. Gulen was also blamed for coordinating damaging corruption allegations that targeted senior ministers as well as Erdogan's son, Bilal, in 2013. Protesters attempt to take over tank in Turkey

The Obama administration said it would entertain an extradition request for Gulen if Turkey's government can prove Gulen's wrongdoing, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday

Obama was pictured out playing golf today while Erdogan consolidated his power after the coup and demanded that he arrest Gulen

Gulen was also blamed for coordinating damaging corruption allegations that targeted senior ministers as well as Erdogan's son, Bilal, in 2013.

However, Gulen insists that he had nothing to do with last night's uprising and suggested that Erdogan could have staged the attack himself in order to legitimize a fresh crackdown on the judiciary and military.

Already 2,745 judges and prosecutors have been arrested after the regime questioned their loyalty, while 2,839 soldiers have also been jailed.

He said: 'There is a slight chance, there is a possibility that it could be a staged coup. It could be meant for court accusations and associations. It appears that they have no tolerance for any movement, any group, any organisation that is not under their total control.'

Erdogan was on a seaside vacation when tanks rolled into the streets of Ankara and Istanbul overnight Friday, blocking key bridges.

From a cellphone, he delivered a televised address that called for huge crowds to come out and defend Turkey's democracy - which they did in Ankara, the capital, and in Istanbul, facing off against troops who had blocked key Bosporus bridges that link the city's Asian and European sides

Groups of soldiers reportedly surrendered at several key locations in Ankara and Istanbul, including Bosphorus Bridge, where 100 rebels laid down their arms and submitted themselves to advancing civilians and police officers.

On Saturday morning Erdogan used Twitter to call on supporters to prevent any additional military action, adding: 'We should keep on owning the streets no matter at what stage because a new flare-up could take place at any moment.'

Some 104 plotters were killed after a coup attempt to bring down the Turkish government, while 160 people - at least 41 of them police and 47 civilians - fell as 'martyrs'.

Groups of soldiers reportedly surrendered at several key locations in Ankara and Istanbul, including Bosphorus Bridge, where 100 rebels laid down their arms and submitted themselves to advancing civilians and police officers

Supporters of Erdogan light flares during a pro-government demonstration on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey

Erdogan has long accused Gulen, a former ally, of trying to overthrow the government, but Washington has never found any evidence

Gulen, who lives in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, on a 26-acre compound called the Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center (pictured), denied the allegations saying that 'it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt'

Erdogan was on a seaside vacation when tanks rolled into the streets of Ankara and Istanbul overnight Friday, blocking key bridges

From a cellphone, he delivered a televised address that called for huge crowds (pictured) to come out and defend Turkey's democracy - which they did in Ankara, the capital, and in Istanbul, facing off against troops who had blocked key Bosporus bridges that link the city's Asian and European sides

The rebel army faction - who call themselves the 'Peace Council' - said they were trying to overthrow the government to 'protect human rights' and restore democracy from Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, AKP, which has repeatedly faced criticism from human rights groups and Western allies over its brutal crackdowns on anti-government protesters

Some 104 plotters were killed after a coup attempt to bring down the Turkish government, while 160 people - at least 41 of them police and 47 civilians - fell as 'martyrs'

Throughout the night, supporters of Erdogan threw themselves in front of tanks at key landmarks to prevent the military from maintaining a stranglehold on the country, notably outside Ataturk airport in Istanbul, where some civilians lodged themselves under the wheels of tanks to stop them from advancing.

More than 2,800 rebels have been detained after their failed military coup, as Erdogan vowed revenge for the bloody uprising.

Erdogan has long accused Gulen, a former ally, of trying to overthrow the government, but Washington has never found any evidence.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that, while the death penalty was abolished in Turkey in 2004, the country may consider legal changes to deter any such coup happening again.

Yildirim described the night as 'a black mark on Turkish democracy' and said the perpetrators 'will receive every punishment they deserve'.

He said July 15 will be remembered as 'a festival for democracy,' the day when those who carried out a coup against the people were hit by a coup themselves.

The Greek police ministry said a Turkish military helicopter landed in Greece this morning and eight men on board, thought to be senior coup plotters, have requested political asylum. Turkey has asked for the men, made up of seven soldiers and one civilian, to be extradited back to the country.

More than 2,800 rebels have been detained after their failed military coup, as Erdogan vowed revenge for the bloody uprising. Pictured are protesters during a pro-government rally

Throughout the night, supporters of Erdogan threw themselves in front of tanks (pictured) at key landmarks to prevent the military from maintaining a stranglehold on the country, notably outside Ataturk airport in Istanbul, where some civilians lodged themselves under the wheels of tanks to stop them from advancing

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that, while the death penalty was abolished in Turkey in 2004, the country may consider legal changes to deter any such coup happening again. Yildirim described the night as 'a black mark on Turkish democracy' and said the perpetrators 'will receive every punishment they deserve'

The Greek police ministry said a Turkish military helicopter landed in Greece this morning and eight men on board, thought to be senior coup plotters, have requested political asylum. Turkey has asked for the men, made up of seven soldiers and one civilian, to be extradited back to the country. Pictured are protesters during a pro-government rally

In a statement issued after a meeting with his national security advisers Obama also urged those in Turkey to show restraint and avoid violence or bloodshed. Police officers (pictured) drive some of the tanks that were used by soldiers participating in the attempted coup, back to the Selimiye Army Base in Istanbul

People apprehend a Turkish soldier, (center in blue), that participated in the attempted coup, on Istanbul's Bosporus Bridge as 2,839 plotters were detained

The rebel army faction - who call themselves the 'Peace Council' - said they were trying to overthrow the government to 'protect human rights' and restore democracy from Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, AKP, which has repeatedly faced criticism from human rights groups and Western allies over its brutal crackdowns on anti-government protesters.

Muslim cleric Gulen, the president's rival, who is the head of a billion dollar religious movement, has often been blamed for political unrest in Turkey.

President Barack Obama urged all sides in Turkey on Friday to support the democratically elected government in Turkey, a key NATO ally.

In a statement issued after a meeting with his national security advisers Obama also urged those in Turkey to show restraint and avoid violence or bloodshed.

Kerry told reporters: 'We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen. And obviously we would invite the government of Turkey, as we always do, to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny. And the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments about it appropriately.'

'I'm confident there will be some discussion about that,' Kerry added.

Gulen, who lives in Saylorsburg, on a 26-acre compound called the Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center, is understood to maintain significant support among some members of the military and mid-level bureaucrats.

His movement called Hizmet includes think tanks, schools and various media enterprises. Gulen and Erdogan only became estranged in recent years.

Workers inspect and clear debris after the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was bombed by rebel jets

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara after he was bombed by rebel F-16 jets as soldiers and tanks took to the streets and multiple explosions were heard throughout the night in the capital as well as Istanbul

In a statement, Gulen said he condemned, 'in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey.'

'Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force,' he said. 'I pray to God for Turkey, for Turkish citizens, and for all those currently in Turkey that this situation is resolved peacefully and quickly.'

Gulen sharply rejected any responsibility: 'As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations.'

Elsewhere today the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has banned all flights from Turkey coming to America, and has also restricted all travel going the other way.

A spokesman said: 'The FAA is monitoring the situation in Turkey in coordination with our partners in the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security and will update the restrictions as the situation evolves.'

The five hours of chaos began when two busloads of soldiers burst into the headquarters of the state-run TRT news agency, taking news off the air and replacing it with a stream of weather forecasts.

After launching the coup, the Turkish military imposed a curfew on civilians telling them to stay in their homes.

Turkey's top general Hulusi Akar was taken hostage at the military headquarters in the capital Ankara after an attempt to bring down the government, but was rescued during the night.

One military official, Navy Fleet Commander Admiral Veysel Kosele, is currently unaccounted for and it is unknown whether or not he was part of the coup against Erdogan.

Turkey's state-run news agency said five warships which reportedly set sail during the attempted coup have returned to their military port in northwest Turkey, but it is unclear whether or not the Admiral was abroad one of the ships.

Colonel Muharrem Kose reportedly led the Turkish military forces in the uprising.

Reiterating American support for Erdogan's government, Kerry (pictured) said the US opposed any attempt to overthrow a democratically elected leader. He said a change of government should only come through a legal, constitutional process. He said the US had no prior indication of the coup attempt

A group of soldiers with an armored vehicle, involved in the attempted coup were neutralized by police after they tried to storm into Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey

Kose had recently been kicked out of the army, from his position as head of the military's legal advisory department, over his links to Gulen. He was killed during the clashes with Erdogan's supporters, sources report.

After the uprising was crushed in the early hours of Saturday morning, Erdogan told the gathered masses at Ataturk Airport that those loyal to Gulen had 'penetrated the Armed Forces and the police, among other government agencies, over the past 40 years'.

'What is being perpetrated is a rebellion and a treason,' Erdogan said. 'They will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey.'

Reiterating American support for Erdogan's government, Kerry said the US opposed any attempt to overthrow a democratically elected leader.

He said a change of government should only come through a legal, constitutional process.

Kerry also said that US military cooperation with its NATO ally has been unaffected by the turmoil. 'All of that continues as before,' Kerry said.

He said the US had no prior indication of the coup attempt.

It appears not to have been backed by the most senior ranks of the military, and Turkey's main opposition parties quickly condemned the attempted overthrow of the government.

Turkey plays a key role in US-led efforts against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.



