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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is urging Turkey to be patient with the U.S. legal system.
Turkish authorities are trying to get the United States to extradite a cleric who's accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup.
Biden met today with Turkish officials in Ankara. He said afterward that the extradition process will take time. But he reaffirmed the U.S. willingness to cooperate in the case of the U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen.
The cleric, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement in last month's coup attempt that left more than 270 people dead.
Biden says he understands the "intense feeling" that the people of Turkey and their government have about Gulen.
He says U.S. legal experts are working with Turkish officials to gather and evaluate the evidence that would have to be supplied to U.S. courts in order to win the extradition of Gulen to Turkey.
Biden adds that the U.S. has "no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally."
He also warned that President Barack Obama won't intervene in the extradition process.
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177-w-36-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent, with Vice President Joe Biden)--Vice President Biden is urging Turkey to be patient while America considers an extradition request for the U.S.-based cleric Turks accuse of masterminding last month's failed coup. AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports. (24 Aug 2016)
<<CUT *177 (08/24/16)££ 00:36
168-a-13-(Vice President Joe Biden, at news conference with Turkey Prime Minister Binali Yildirim)-"on the 15th"-Vice President Biden says allegations of U.S. complicity in last month's abortive coup are completely unfounded. (24 Aug 2016)
<<CUT *168 (08/24/16)££ 00:13 "on the 15th"
APPHOTO ANK136: U. S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim shake hands before their talks in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Biden called on Turkish authorities on Wednesday to be patient with the U.S. legal system as Turkey seeks the return of a cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup, Fethullah Gulen, saying the extradition process would take time. (Hakan Goktepe, Prime Minister's Press Service Pool via AP) (24 Aug 2016)
<<APPHOTO ANK136 (08/24/16)££
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