Turkey to ready dossier for Gulen extradition in 10 days - Foreign Minister

Members of the ultra-nationalist Turkish Youth Association (TGB) take part in a protest against academics close to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen in front of Ankara University in Ankara, Turkey, July 21, 2016. The banner reads "Universities should be cleansed from Fethullah's terrorist organisation". REUTERS/Baz Ratner

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey expects to complete within a week to 10 days a dossier requesting the extradition from the United States of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of masterminding a failed coup, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday. Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV in an interview the link between soldiers involved in the July 15 abortive coup and Gulen's extensive network of followers was "very clear", adding that Turkey would do all it could "politically and legally" to secure the extradition of the reclusive cleric. Gulen, 75, denies any involvement in the coup attempt. The United States has said Turkey, a NATO ally, needs to provide clear evidence of Gulen's involvement in the coup before it can extradite him. Lawyers say the process could take many years. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Michael Georgy)