Erdogan to 'root out' Gulenists in Turkish businesses

ANKARA (AA) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to “root out” Gulenists in the business world on Wednesday.

During a speech at the Presidential Complex in the Turkish capital, Ankara, Erdogan said: "No organization can preserve its power without financial substructure."

"It is a must for us to clear FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] from the business world, as we root out FETO in the armed forces, judiciary, police and other institutions", added Erdogan.

The Turkish president also said the country was determined to stamp out FETO members just like other terrorist organizations such as the PKK and Daesh, while making no concessions to the principles of democracy or the rule of law.

Turkey's government has said the defeated July 15 coup, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999.

Gulen is 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’.