Obama denies US involvement in failed coup

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Barack Obama on Friday strongly refuted allegations that Washington was behind last week’s attempted plot to overthrow the Turkish government.

"Any reports that we had any previous knowledge of a coup attempt, that there was any U.S. involvement in it, that we were anything other than entirely supportive of Turkish democracy are completely false, unequivocally false,” Obama said during a joint press conference with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieta.

“We deplore the attempted coup,” the American president added.

Turkey accuses U.S-based cleric Fetullah Gulen of masterminding the attempted overthrow of the Turkish government last Friday and has demanded he be extradited to face trial.

Materials related to the extradition of the cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, have been submitted to U.S. authorities.

Obama stressed that any efforts to extradite Gulen will be governed by treaties and laws.

“It is not a decision that I make, but rather a decision that our Justice Department and investigators and courts make alongside my administration in a very well-structured and well-established process,” he said.