Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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US Suspends Non-immigrant Visa Services in Turkey

by VOA News

   The United States has temporarily halted all non-immigrant visa
   applications from Turkey, according to the embassy in Ankara.

   An embassy statement Sunday read, "Recent events have forced the United
   States Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of
   Turkey to the security of U.S. Mission facilities and personnel."

   The statement did not clarify the reasons for which it is reassessing
   Turkey's commitment, nor did it say how long the suspension would last.

   The statement added, "In order to minimize the number of visitors to
   our Embassy and Consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective
   immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all
   U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey."

   Last week, Turkey arrested Metin Topuz - a U.S. consulate employee and
   Turkish national, accusing him of regular communication with alleged
   leading members of what Turkey has deemed a terrorist network blamed
   for a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last year.

   According to Turkey's government, the so-called Fethullah Terrorist
   Organization, created by U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, was
   involved in the attempted coup in which more than 250 people were
   killed. Gulen, who is in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, denies any
   involvement.