U.S. receives Turkey's formal extradition request for cleric Gulen

The U.S. has received a formal extradition request from Turkey for U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.

However, the extradition request is not related to the failed coup attempt last month in Turkey, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said at a regular press briefing.

"Obviously, it's related to other reasons for which they want him extradited for," Toner said. "But I don't know the specifics on that."

The spokesperson said once the U.S. makes a full assessment of the documents, it will make a determination on the extradition case.

A delegation of U.S. officials from the Justice and State Department arrived in Ankara on Monday to discuss developments following the failed coup.

The four U.S. officials are expected to discuss with their Turkish counterparts on Tuesday and Wednesday the extradition of Gulen, whom Ankara has blamed for masterminding the failed July 15 coup attempt.

Tensions brewed after Ankara expressed its discontent over lack of support from Washington in the wake of the failed coup.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag warned that the relationship between both countries could be negatively affected if Gulen is not extradited.

However, the U.S. insists that the cleric will only be extradited following legal procedures according to relevant legislature and treaties. Endit