ANKARA: Turkey's state-run news agency says a Turkish naval officer working in the United States has gone missing and has failed to report back home following a failed coup by renegade officers within the Turkish military.
The Anadolu Agency, citing an official at the Turkish embassy in Washington, says Navy Rear Admiral Mustafa Ugurlu had left his ID and badges at his base on July 22 and has not been heard from since.
Turkish officials could not confirm reports that Ugurlu was seeking asylum in the United States. The U.S. State Department said it does not comment on or handle asylum cases.
The issue could complicate US-Turkish ties. Ankara is already pressing Washington to extradite U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who it accuses of orchestrating the coup. Gulen denies involvement.