Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Monday his country has "serious" intelligence suggesting that US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen; who is wanted by his country, may be planning to escape to Canada, ABC News reported.

Kurtulmus told reporters that intelligence gathered by Turkey indicated that followers of Gulen had purchased "land and farms" in Canada and the Turkish government has shared this information with the US Justice Ministry.

Turkey accuses Gulen of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in July 2016 and wants him extradited so that he may be put on trial. Turkey also requested that the cleric be taken into custody while the US authorities review his case, to prevent him from leaving for another country.

"We hope that the United States considers the issue seriously," Kurtulmus said.

Gulen denies orchestrating the coup.

Source: MENA