ENEMIES

Turkish Cleric Says Erdoğan Staged Coup

Gülen not too worried about extradition request.

Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, who Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says masterminded this weekend’s attempted coup, has accused Erdoğan of staging the uprising himself. Gülen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, also said he was “not really worried” about the extradition request from Turkish authorities. “I don’t believe that the world believes the accusations made by President Erdoğan,” he was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “There is a possibility that it could be a staged coup and it could be meant for further accusations [against the Gülenists],” he said, denying claims he had anything to do with the uprising. U.S. authorities have said they would consider Turkey’s extradition request if there is any evidence to support the claims against Gülen.