Biden admits 'concrete evidence' from Turkey on Gulen

NEW YORK

Vice President Joe Biden admitted that Ankara provided "concrete evidence" about terror leader Fetullah Gulen being the mastermind of a recent coup attempt in Turkey, that country’s Justice Minister said Thursday.

Bekir Bozdag, who is accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a visit to New York for the annual UN General Assembly meetings, made his remarks as he answered journalists' questions.

"We have enough information, document and proof that shows Fetullah Gulen is the leader of this terror group that had tried to make a coup," Bozdag said, referring to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) that Ankara implicates in the coup attempt. "Mr. Biden also accepted and stated that there was concrete evidence," he said.

Bozdag said Turkey expects the U.S. to take the necessary "second step" and temporarily arrest Gulen.

"We hope that it won't be delayed and happen on a short notice," Bozdag said. "We requested a temporary arrest on Gulen because of the July 15 coup bid and him being the mastermind behind this. He is a terrorist that conducted this coup bid from Pennsylvania."

Ankara maintains that the overthrow attempt was organized by followers of Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his FETO terror group.

Gulen is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

(Reporting by Tugrul Cam, writing by Satuk Bugra Kutlugun)