Former Turkish air force commander General Akin Ozturk has denied having any role in the attempted coup in Turkey last Friday. Ozturk and 26 senior officials were arrested on Monday on charges of treason after the ex-commander allegedly confessed to leading the coup, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. But Ozturk told prosecutors that he did not plan or lead the attempted military takeover, BBC reported.
Turkey also asked the United States to hand over Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, who was earlier believed to have been behind the incident. President Tayyip Erdogan said that an extradition request for Gülen will be filed later this week. Gülen also denied being involved in the attempted coup.
“We would be disappointed if our (American) friends told us to present proof even though members of the assassin organisation are trying to destroy an elected government under the directions of that person,” Reuters quoted Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as saying. “At this stage there could even be a questioning of our friendship.”
Around 20,000 people have been detained or suspended since the attempted coup on July 15. The incident left around 290 people dead.
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