Turkey Prosecutors Launch Probe of PM Foe Gulen
Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into a U.S.-based cleric on charges of attempting a coup after the government accused him of masterminding a vast corruption scandal, an official said Wednesday.
Culture Minister Omer Celik told the private NTV television network that the Ankara chief prosecutor's office had launched the probe after several complaints against Fetullah Gulen, a former ruling-party ally whom Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses of running a "parallel state".
"There are serious accusations including espionage. We see that they (followers of Gulen) formed a state within a state and wiretapped even the most private government meetings," Celik said.
Gulen is being charged with "attempting to destroy the Turkish government, or to partially or completely prevent its functioning" and forming and running a criminal organization, according to the NTV report.
Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkey would seek Gulen's extradition from its NATO ally the United States.
Turkey's powerful premier, who has dominated politics for 11 years, has repeatedly accused Gulen's followers in the police and judiciary of engineering the corruption scandal that has ensnared his government as well as a string of damaging leaks in the media.
The prime minister retaliated by sacking thousands of police and hundreds of prosecutors and judges.
The influential cleric, who was forced to flee the country in 1999 after he was accused of plotting against the government of the time, has denied being behind the corruption scandal.
Celik said Wednesday the accusations should be dealt with as a national security problem.
Source: Agence France Presse
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