By Murat Demirci

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has included the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on its list of terrorist groups on Thursday, the prime minister said.

Speaking at a news conference, TRNC Prime Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun announced that the decision to designate the group led by U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen as a terrorist organization had been approved by the Council of Ministers.

Ozgurgun also said that TRNC security forces and police units had taken all measures necessary to prevent a potential attack by the terrorist organization.

At least 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara, and over 1,500 others were wounded as they protested the coup.

Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming the so-called “parallel state.”

* Hatice Kesgin contributed to this report from Ankara.