Erdogan says Kerry to visit Turkey on August 21

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that US State Secretary John Kerry intends to visit this month, in what would be the first trip by a top Western dignitary since a failed putsch. Kerry's visit, if confirmed, comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Ankara in the wake of the attempted military takeover on July 15. Turkey has been furiously demanding the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of masterminding the coup.