Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday said the ministry has dismissed 88 of its employees, including two ambassadors, in investigations following a failed coup attempt.
Cavusoglu said that the dismissals came as one of many throughout the process of cutting all ties to the so-called Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO).
He was referring to Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric Ankara accused of being the mastermind behind the July 15 coup attempt, which left no fewer than 290 people dead, including over 100 “coup plotters.’’
Turkey has demanded that the U.S., where Gulen resides, repatriate him.
Washington insisted that Turkey provide “concrete evidence’’ directly implicating Gulen as a precondition to his extradition.
It added that in a related development, two generals submitted their resignations from the Turkish General Staff.
It noted that a total of 1,684 military personnel, including 149 generals and admirals, were discharged from the Turkish armed forces on Wednesday.
Authorities say the discharged military personnel were members of or were indirectly related to FETO.
However, 10,012 soldiers have been detained in the ongoing investigation.
