Turkish PM asks CIA chief about Gulen's extradition

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim reiterated Turkey's request for the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Fetullah Gulen when he met CIA Director Mike Pompeo at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara on Friday, according to a Prime Ministry source.

Yildirim also asked for more cooperation from Pompeo to deal with Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO)'s structure in the U.S. as well, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Pompeo arrived in the Turkish capital Thursday on his first overseas visit since taking office last month. His arrival came two days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The CIA head met Erdogan at the presidential complex on Thursday, according to a presidency source. Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), was also present that meeting; Pompeo had also visited the MIT office.

Ankara has on several occasions asked Washington to extradite Gulen for his role in establishing a quasi-state within Turkey that led a defeated coup on July 15, 2016.