No compromise over Gulen extradition says Turkey PM

Turkey’s prime minister has promised “no compromise” with the US over its request to extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based cleric the government blames for the 15 July coup attempt.

During a briefing for journalists, Binali Yildirim added that US Vice President Joe Biden would visit Turkey on 24 August, as tensions continue to mount over US criticism of the post-coup crackdown by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.

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

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

His comments come after Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that he had been receiving "positive signals" from the US over the Gulen extradition.

On Friday, Cavusoglu also said there were 32 "missing" diplomats in various countries following the coup attempt and that the Turkish government would also be seeking their extradition.

More than 240 people were killed during the coup attempt by a faction in the Turkish military using fighter jets, helicopters and tanks.

Yildirim said that 76,597 staff had been suspended and 4,897 dismissed in the aftermath of the coup attempt. Of those sacked, more than 3,000 were military staff, judges and civil servants.

Earlier on Saturday, Turkey took exception to remarks by a top UN human rights official for saying that Ankara should stem its "thirst for revenge" against internal critics following the coup.

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic, in a statement, said the comments by Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein were unacceptable.

Despite the international outcry over his government's actions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's popularity has soared as nationalist sentiment rose following the failed coup.

In a survey of 1,275 people conducted by the Ankara-based Metropoll research company between 28 July and 1 August, Erdogan's approval rating was 67.6 percent, a 21-point rise over a previous poll in late June.

Devlet Bahceli, the previously unpopular leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has seen an even bigger surge in support, with his approval levels reaching 40 percent, a 23 percentage point increase.