Erdogan: We could return Greek soldiers if 'Turkey's 8' are extradited

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will consider returning the two Greek soldiers who have been detained in Turkey if Greece extradites the eight Turkish servicemen who sought protection in the country after the foiled coup attempt in July 2016, AFP reported.

This is the first time Erdogan directly links the two cases, verifying fears they could be used as a bargaining chip.  

"They (Greece) ask us to give back the Greek soldiers and we told them 'if you make such a demand, you should first give us FETO soldiers involved in a coup against our state'," Erdogan reportedly said in a live interview with NTV television, according to AFP.

"If they are handed to us, we will consider" the situation on Greek soldiers, he said.

FETO refers to a movement led by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who Ankara accuses being behind the...