ISTANBUL—Turkey has dismissed as “utterly false, ludicrous and groundless” a report that Turkish officials may have discussed paying millions of dollars to have a U.S.-based Muslim cleric kidnapped. Turkey blames the cleric and his supporters for a July 2016 military coup attempt that killed 250 people. The Turkish Embassy in Washington reiterated demands late Saturday for the United States to extradite Gulen so he can stand trial. Also behind bars in Turkey for alleged links to Gulen is U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for over 20 years. Read more: Mueller probing alleged plan for ex-Trump adviser Flynn to seize, deliver cleric Gulen to Turkey: report Turkey OKs military intervention, warns Iraqi Kurds on independence vote

Source: thestar November 12, 2017 15:56 UTC