15,200 education staff suspended in Turkey
Online Desk
19 Jul 2016 12:03 PM
Getty Images
More than 15,000 education staff in Turkey have been suspended after last week's failed coup, as a purge of state officials widens still further.
The ministry of education accused them of links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric the Turkish government says was behind Friday's uprising, reports BBC.
Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt.
The resignation of more than 1,500 university deans has also been ordered by Turkey's high education board.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed to take action against Mr Gulen's supporters.
"I'm sorry but this parallel terrorist organisation will no longer be an effective pawn for any country," Mr Yildirim said, according to Reuters news agency.
"We will dig them up by their roots so that no clandestine terrorist organisation will have the nerve to betray our blessed people again."
