Ankara, (IANS) : The Turkish government has made official the final dismissal of about 40,000 employees, suspected of links with the network of conservative preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused of organising the failed coup in July.

According to a decree issued on Thursday night in the official gazette of the Turkish state, the layoffs included 28,100 employees from the Education Ministry, 7,600 others from security, 2,000 from health and 1,500 from religious affairs, EFE news reported.

Since the attempted coup in July, Turkey has suspended about 80,000 public employees in different government sectors, including the Army.