Turkey: US shouldn't 'sacrifice' alliance over Muslim cleric
ANKARA - Turkey's justice minister said Tuesday the United States would be sacrificing its alliance with Turkey to "a terrorist" if it were to refuse to extradite a US-based Muslim cleric whom the government says is behind the July 15 failed coup.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag also told the state-run Anadolu Agency that anti-American sentiment in Turkey was reaching "its peak" over the issue of cleric Fethullah Gulen's return and risked turning into hatred.
Turkey has branded Gulen's movement a terror organization and wants him returned to Turkey to face trial. Washington has said it would need evidence of the cleric's involvement, and says the regular extradition process must be allowed to take its course.
