ISTANBUL: An Istanbul court issued an arrest warrant for US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen who President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regards as his top enemy, in a controversial case that has strained ties with the EU.
The court agreed an earlier request by prosecutors for the arrest notice but it remains to be seen if the United States will show any interest in extraditing him to face trial on terrorism charges in Turkey.
The warrant was issued after the court earlier remanded in custody the head of a national TV network and three former police officers -- all of whom are deemed linked to Gulen -- on terrorism charges.
Samanyolu TV chief Hidayet Karaca was placed under arrest on charges of forming a terrorist group, after being detained with over two dozen others in weekend raids on journalists, scriptwriters and police accused of plotting to overthrow Erdogan.
The court however ordered the release of Ekrem Dumanli, the editor-in-chief of the Zaman daily, which has repeatedly accused Erdogan of running a corrupt regime and who was arrested in the same raids last Sunday.
Both the Zaman newspaper and the STV channel are linked to Gulen, a one-time ally of Erdogan whom the Turkish strongman has now vowed to crush without mercy.
Dumanli defiantly told hundreds of supporters outside the court after his release that "the press cannot be silenced, media will never succumb to intimidations".
Seven other suspects in the case were ordered released by the court in Istanbul while three more -- all ex-police officers -- were also remanded in custody.
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