Turkey detains 10 foreigners nationals over coup

Turkey: At least 10 foreign nationals have been detained by Turkish authorities after they were suspected of having ties to a US-based cleric whom Ankara accuses of masterminding the July 15 failed coup attempt said a senior official.

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said four of them had been formally arrested and awaiting trial while a fifth person had been released.
The minister said one of the suspect was detained on Saturday after entering Turkey illegally from Syria adding that at least one wanted foreign national was on the run.

No details on their nationalities were given but said the number of foreigners detained could increase as the investigation continues.

The Turkish government had launched a massive crackdown after the failed coup targeting followers of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it accused of masterminding the coup attempt by sections of the military.

Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US has however denied his involvement as the Turkish government demands his extradition from the US.