Turkish PM receives Saudi foreign minister in Ankara

By Mumin Altas

ANKARA (AA) - Prime Minister Binali Yildirim received Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir Thursday at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara, according to prime ministry sources.

Yildirim thanked al-Jubeir for Saudi Arabia's support and solidarity in the wake of the July 15 foiled coup, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Al-Jubeir stressed that his country would continue to cooperate with Turkey in fighting terrorism as well as regional issues, the sources added.

Earlier in the day, al-Jubeir and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held a joint news conference in Ankara.

The Turkish government says U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen organized the July 15 coup attempt, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1997, is also accused of running a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.