From Washington, this is voa news. I'm David Byrd reporting. thousands of turkish citizens packed the city's squares in istanbul and ankara to show support for President Erdoğan.

Crowds waved flags at the late-night rallies and chanted their determination not to let anything or anyone divide the country after a failed coup attemt by some of the country's military.

neary 2,900 soldiers and officers who took part in the coup attempt have been arrested. as many as 2,745 judges allegedly linked to exiled muslim cleric have been arrested or suspended.

as many as 265 people died and another 1,400 were wounded in frid's uprising.

President Erdoğan has blamed U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for frid's failed coup attempt. gulen, who lives in pennsylvania, has rejected any links to the uprising, saying that democracy cannot be brought about by military force.

Laura Pitel is a freelance reporter in istanbul. she says sec st, while repeating Washington's support for democracy in turkey, said the us has not received any formal request to extradite gulen.