MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Turkey’s Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said Thursday intelligence indicated that exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of masterminding a recent coup plot, may leave the United States for countries including Canada, Egypt or Australia.
"There are reports from intelligence that [Gulen] could escape to other countries," Bozdag said in an interview with the Haberturk broadcaster before listing the cleric's possible destinations, including South Africa and Mexico.
He further accused Gulen of preparing "for 40 years" the ouster carried out by a military faction on July 15-16 that lead to nearly 300 deaths and a mass crackdown.
The development comes as the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had dismissed 88 staff members in connection with the attempted overthrow.
