US Justice Department to send delegation to Turkey next week over Gülen's extradition

WASHINGTON

The U.S. Justice Department will send a technical delegation to Turkey next week over the government's request to extradite U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, the prime suspect behind the July 15 coup attempt according to Ankara.

The Turkish Justice Ministry had invited a delegation from Washington to come to Turkey first to discuss Gülen's extradition.

In return, a delegation from the Justice ministry will later depart for U.S. to discuss the extradition after the U.S. delegation's visit.

Ankara has already lodged two extradition demands with the U.S. for Gülen, who lives a self-claimed exile in Pennsylvania.

Earlier this week, a second document had been sent to the United States demanding the urgent arrest of Gülen.

The U.S. Department of State announced on Aug. 5 that it was evaluating new documents sent by Ankara.