UPDATE - Swift US move to extradite terror leader needed: Turkey

ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM PM

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA (AA) - On the eve of a trip to Washington, Turkey’s prime minister on Tuesday called on the U.S. judiciary to take immediate steps to extradite the leader of the terrorist group behind last year’s defeated coup.

Referring to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Binali Yildirim told reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport: “Everything for the extradition of the FETO leader has been done. The piles of files can’t fit in rooms anymore.

"If this many files and documents aren’t enough, there must be something else involved in this issue. So the judiciary in the U.S. should take immediate legal action and do what’s necessary.”

Amid mounting tensions after a U.S./Turkey visa row and accusations from both sides, Yildirim went on to say some legal actions and arrests had taken place in both countries.

“The legal process is underway in line with the principles of the state of law in both countries”, he added.

The Turkish premier also said talks to request guarantees were not necessary, as both countries operated under the rule of law.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 that martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Turkey has long accused the U.S. of dragging its feet on Gulen’s extradition, saying it has requested his return with more-than-sufficient evidence of his guilt.

Yildirim’s trip comes amid signs of improving Turkish-U.S. relations. Both countries on Monday partially restored visa services after a nearly month-long row over Turkish staffers of a U.S. mission arrested for alleged FETO ties.