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Obama strongly condemns coup attempt in Turkey

Xinhua, July 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday strongly condemned last week's coup attempt in Turkey to violently remove the civilian government.

Speaking by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama also expressed his support for Turkish democracy and lauded the Turkish people's resolve against the violent intervention and their commitment to democracy, the White House said in a statement.

More than 290 people, includes at least 190 civilians and 100 coup plotters, were killed in the coup attempt that swept Turkey on Friday night but was foiled by Saturday morning.

Obama urged that the investigations and prosecution of the coup's perpetrators be conducted in ways that "reinforce public confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law."

According to news reports, the Turkish government has launched a widespread crackdown in the wake of the coup attempt, detaining more than 6,000 people and discharging almost 50,000 civil servants in a bid to strengthen control over all institutions.

In the telephone talk, Obama also made clear that the United States is "willing to provide appropriate assistance" to Turkish authorities investigating the attempted coup, the statement said.

The Turkish government claimed the failed coup was organized by followers of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric and said an official request has been sent to the U.S. government for his extradition.

At Tuesday's regular press briefing, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the status of Gulen was discussed on the call between Obama and Erdogan.

He said that the Turkish government has filed materials in electronic form about Gulen with the U.S. government, but the U.S. is still reviewing the materials to determine whether they qualify as a formal extradition request.

The spokesman added that the U.S. will review the materials consistent with the requirements of the extradition treaty between the two countries.

"There also is due process to which people who live in the United States are entitled to," Earnest said. "We will make sure that that due process is followed as well." Endit