Hours after announcing a three-month extension of a state of emergency, Turkey suspended 12,801 police officers on Tuesday, saying they had suspected links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for orchestrating July's failed coup. The overall number represents more than five per cent of Turkey's entire police force. Turkey lists the religious movement led by Gulen as an illegal terrorist network, though he has denied having any link to the uprising. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Kurtulmus said the extension would allow Turkey to wipe out "terrorist organisations", code for Gulenists. Turkey wants the United States to extradite Gulen and prosecute him on charges that he masterminded the attempt to overthrow the government.

Source: CBC News October 04, 2016 05:55 UTC