(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ANKARA, Aug 12 (KUNA) -- Turkey's higher educational authority dismissed on Friday 5,342 employees and academics on charges of complicity with the futile coup bid that rattled the nation in the middle of last month.
The authority said in a statement that the dismissal decision was applicable to staff at public and private universities and colleges and that it was result of investigations, carried out by the public prosecution to uncover members of the "parallel entity" of Fethullah Gulen.
Investigations are proceeding, targeting other civil servants throughout the nation, it added.
Meanwhile, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag expressed hope, at a news conference, that the United States of America would extradite Gulen, the suspected mastermind of the recent mutiny against the state.
Turkey is proceeding with certain legal procedures for "sound handover" of Gulen to Ankara, the minister said, reiterating the charges that Gulen was behind "the recent crimes." Turkish cities, Istanbul Ankara and others, witnessed on July 15 a foiled bid to overthrow the leadership of Recep Tayipp Erdogan. Tension prevailed in the cities for long hours, with tank-led army forces making special movements and scores of civilians taking to the streets in response to Erdogan's at the time to confront the plotters. (end) rs.rk