Recep Tayyip Erdogan Says Coup Was 'Scenario Written From Outside' Turkey

Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today that last month's attempted coup was a scenario drawn up from outside Turkey, in an allusion to possible foreign involvement in the plot.

"This coup was not just an event planned from the inside. The actors inside acted out a scenario for a coup written from the outside," Erdogan said in a speech at his presidential palace.

The president had previously said that foreign states could have been involved, while not giving clues as to which countries might be responsible.

Ankara accuses the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen of being behind the plot and has stepped up pressure on the US authorities to extradite him back to Turkey.

"How can it be, when we are strategic partners and I ask you on behalf of my country to hand someone over on the basis of a national security strategy document, you keep on hiding and sheltering him?" Erdogan angrily asked Washington.

Erdogan said Gulen's major source of income was in the United States, adding that $200-300 million alone comes from charter schools run by foundations linked to him.