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Turkish diplomat tells Kerry 'Gullenists' behind Russian ambassador’s murder

Gullen, a former cleric and opposition leader, has lived in the United States for more than a decade

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (right) EPA/NG HAN GUAN / POOL

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (right)

© EPA/NG HAN GUAN / POOL

MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told his US counterpart John Kerry that the movement of Fethullah Gulen was behind this week’s assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, the official Anadolu news agency reported Tuesday citing diplomatic sources.

Turkey sees the movement of Gullen, a former cleric and opposition leader who has lived in the United States for more than a decade, as the leading force behind July’s failed military coup in the country.

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When asked to comment on the possible involvement of Gullenists into the killing, US Department of State spokesman John Kirby replied: "I don’t know and I don’t think you know what the motivations were behind this individual."

"We need to let the investigators do their job. That we need to let them - let the facts and the evidence take them where it is before we jump to conclusions," Kirby said, adding that any notion that the United States was in any way supportive of the assassination or was indirectly involved in it was "absolutely ridiculous."

In a readout of Kerry's call with Cavusoglu Tuesday, Kirby said that the secretary "offered US assistance to the investigation into the horrific murder of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov."

An armed man whom the police identified later as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, a former police officer, opened indiscriminate fire on Monday in an arts gallery in Ankara where Ambassador Karlov was opening an exhibition of Turkish photographic works featuring Russia. He received a gunshot wound, of which he died at hospital later.

Turkish officials said the attacker was eliminated on the spot. Apart from the ambassador, he wounded three more people.

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Situation in Iran’s Isfahan stabilizes after drone attack — media

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Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

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Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

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"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

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Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

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Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

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Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

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Moscow-based embassies of NATO countries helped anti-government groups, Lavrov says

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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