Some 32,000 suspects have been placed under arrest in Turkey as part of an investigation into a failed coup in July.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag confirmed the arrests today in an interview with NTV television.

He said around 70,000 people now face legal proceedings on suspicion of links with Fethullah Gulen.

"The process is continuing," he added, according to a translation by AFP.

The government alleges the US-based cleric engineered the failed coup.

Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement and said he condemns the attempted coup "in the strongest terms".

Turkey is building a new courthouse near the capital Ankara in order to prosecute those arrested.

Senior military commanders, rank-and-file soldiers and thousands of judges are among those who have rounded up in a crackdown following the plot.