Turkish PM says US is `strategic partner, not our enemy`

Istanbul: Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the United States was Turkey`s "strategic partner, not our enemy", after Ankara repeatedly criticised Washington for failing to extradite Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom it blames for the July 15 coup bid.

"There can be ups and downs in the two countries` relations (but) we need to remove elements that harm our relations," Yildirim told journalists at a briefing in Istanbul, referring to Gulen.