Turkey coup

An official says it may remove children from homes if their guardians are found to be coup supporters.

More than 125,000 people were dismissed or suspended and about 40,000 others arrested after the coup attempt.

Last week, the European parliament voted for a temporary halt to EU membership talks with Turkey because of its "disproportionate" reaction.

More than 35,000 people have been detained, of whom 17,000 have been placed under formal arrest, and tens of thousands more suspended since the July 15 putsch, which authorities blame on US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made the comments to a group of Turkish journalists as it was announced that US Vice President Joe Biden would visit Turkey on August 24.

"The main element improving our relations with the US is the extradition of Gulen, where there is no room for negotiation," Mr Yildirim was quoted as saying by CNN Turk's general manager, who was among journalists attending the briefing.

"Whether or not the anti-Americanism in Turkey will continue is also dependant on this," Mr Yildirim added.

Binali Yildirim told reporters in Ankara that more than 3,000 of those sacked were members of the military.

They are suspected of links to exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, he said.

Announcing a visit to Turkey by US Vice-President Joe Biden, he again urged the US to extradite Mr Gulen.

The cleric, a former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, from where he runs a worldwide network of charities and schools.

Having been cracked by the authorities, ByLock had been abandoned by members of the dissident Gulen movement before the coup attempt, the news agency heard.

But some 40,000 undercover operatives, including 600 ranking military personnel, had already been identified.

Experts told Reuters ByLock appeared to be the work of amateur developers.

'Directly involved'

The Gulenists are followers of exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who now lives in the United States.

Mr Erdogan had planned to address the rally in the city of Cologne, held to denounce an attempted coup two weeks ago, by video link.

But on Saturday, Germany's Constitutional Court banned the speech from being broadcast.

German media said at least 35,000 people turned out.

An estimated three million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, the majority of whom voted for Mr Erdogan's AKP party in the last Turkish election, according to the Turkish Communities in Germany organisation.

As many as 758 of the 10,012 soldiers held after that failed power grab were freed Saturday, on the recommendation of a judge in Istanbul after the soldiers provided testimony on their involvement in the execution of the plot to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The judge called the detention of the soldiers, including military students, unnecessary.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the proposals would be brought before parliament.

The measures are the latest in a large-scale crackdown launched after the failed coup on 15 July.

The authorities say Fetullah Gulen was behind the army-led coup in which at least 246 people died. The US-based cleric denies the allegation.

"We are going to introduce a small constitutional package which, if approved, will bring the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) and chief of staff under the control of the presidency," President Erdogan told Turkey's A Haber television on Saturday.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was inspired by the feelings of unity in the wake of the recent failed coup.

But he also stepped up his attacks on nations criticising his crackdown in the wake of the coup attempt, telling them to "mind your own business".

He earlier blasted US Gen Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command, saying he was "on the side of the coup plotters".

Gen Votel had said in remarks on Thursday that the jailing of some military leaders could damage Turkish-American military co-operation.

'Cannot be our friends'

The statement also ordered the closure of more than 1,000 private schools and more than 1,200 associations.

It follows last week's failed coup attempt against Mr Erdogan and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency.

Mr Erdogan has blamed the coup attempt on US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Mr Gulen has denied any involvement.

The Turkish leader has said the state of emergency will allow the authorities to deal with the aftermath of the failed coup effectively, allowing them to restore order.