WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has told his Turkish counterpart that he could not take the decision to extradite the alleged coup plotter, Fethullah Gulen, who now lives in Pennsylvania, the White House said.

President Obama telephoned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday and, according to the White House, offered to help in prosecuting those involved in Friday’s coup attempt in Turkey.

The Turkish government blames Mr Gulen for orchestrating the failed coup and wants him repatriated to Turkey for a trial.

“The status of Mr Gulen was discussed in this call,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters in Washington. And Mr Obama told Mr Erdogan that the “decision about Mr Gülen’s status and the decision to extradite him is not a decision that is made by the president of the United States,” he added.

Mr Earnest confirmed that the Turkish government has also sent “electronic material” to the US government to support its demand for extraditing Mr Gulen.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2016