Exiled Cleric Fethullah Gulen Accuses Turkish President Erdogan Of Orchestrating Friday's Attempted Coup

Daily Mail: Did Erdogan STAGE the coup? US-based Turkish cleric facing extradition over botched rebellion claims president orchestrated plot to justify a clampdown on civil rights

* Exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen accused Recep Erdogan of staging the coup
* The Pennsylvania-based preacher has condemned the attempted rebellion
* Erdogan told supporters he is considering reintroducing the death penalty
* He claimed Gulen was behind a 'parallel structure' to overthrow the state

A US-based Turkish cleric accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the Ankara government has claimed President Recep Erdogan staged the rebellion himself to justify a major clampdown on opposition forces.

Fethullah Gulen, who was a former key ally of Erdogan has been blamed by the politician of using his contacts to develop a 'parallel structure' to overthrow the state.

Erdogan has called on US President Barack Obama to extradite Gulen, who is based in Pennsylvania.

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Update #1: Turkish president wants U.S. to send rival cleric home (CNN)
Update #2: Turkey’s Erdogan Links U.S. Alliance to Extraditing Enemy (Bloomberg)
Update #3: U.S.-Turkish tensions rise after failed coup attempt, extradition demand (Chicago Tribune)

WNU Editor: Allies once .... both Erdogan and Gulen are now sworn enemies. For the U.S. .... they find themselves in the middle of this mess .... U.S., Turkey on a Collision Course Over Ankara’s Demand for U.S.-Based Cleric (WSJ).

Update #4: Fethullah Gülen: Turkey coup may have been 'staged' by Erdoğan regime (The Guardian)