Turkey has dismissed 87 staff from its spy agency over alleged links to the failed July 15 coup which sought to oust the government, state media reported on Tuesday. Eighty-seven out of 141 personnel suspended in an internal probe have been expelled from the National Intelligence Organization, Anadolu news agency reported. Criminal complaints have been lodged against 52 of them, it added. Turkey has fired tens of thousands of people from state institutions in the wake of the attempted putsch but this is the first announcement of dismissals from the powerful spy agency. Turkey's secret service was widely criticized for not warning authorities about the coup bid and the government has acknowledged a vacuum in gathering intelligence. The government has blamed supporters of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen for the coup, and has on several occasions asked US authorities to extradite him. The preacher, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement in the putsch. Warrants for 121 people Turkey's state-run news agency says authorities have issued detention warrants for 121 people as part of an ongoing investigation into the July 15 failed coup. Turkey accuses US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the coup attempt that led to more than 270 deaths, and the government has launched a massive crackdown on his followers. Anadolu Agency said Tuesday that those wanted for detention include directors of a charity linked to Gulen's movement. It says police have launched operations in 18 cities to apprehend suspects. — Agencies
