Azernews.Az

By Gunay Hasanova

The United States do not see a need to make a choice between cooperation with Turkey and extradition of Fethullah Gulen, said the official spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau, RIA Novosti reported.

Earlier, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that the U.S. must make a choice between Turkey and Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish authorities accuse of involvement in the July 15 military coup attempt.

“Sooner or later the U.S. will make a choice: either coup-plotting FETO or democratic Turkey”, said Erdogan.

"There is no need for it," responded Trudeau, further stressing that the U.S. will perform all its obligations under the extradition treaty.

“This is absolutely not connected with our deep cooperation with Turkey”, she added.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the “parallel state”.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.

However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

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