UPDATE - Turkish ministries suspend staff after coup plot

UPDATES WITH LICENSES OF 21,000 PRIVATE TEACHERS SUSPENDED, EDITS THROUGHOUT

ANKARA (AA) - Thousands of public servants were suspended from duty Tuesday in the wake of last week’s attempted coup in Turkey, officials announced.

The Education Ministry suspended 15,200 staff and launched investigations against them, it said in a statement. The licenses of 21,000 personnel working in private institutions were also cancelled amid a crackdown on those suspected of links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization said to be behind Friday’s coup attempt.

The Family and Social Policies Ministry said 393 personnel had been suspended.

The government has accused U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen of organizing the coup bid through a network of supporters in the military.