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Erdogan wants more from Trump before Turkey will free pastor

Though the US president's friendliness toward Turkey's president in Brussels raised hopes for the release of an American pastor charged with espionage, a Turkish court denied an appeal to free Andrew Brunson today.
US President Donald Trump (L) talks to Turkeyís President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 11 July 2018. NATO countries' heads of states and governments gather in Brussels for a two-day meeting.      /Pool via REUTERS - RC13CF6D4C90

Defying expectations, a Turkish court rebuffed appeals today to free Andrew Brunson, the US evangelical pastor whose trial on bogus terror charges has become a litmus test for turbulent ties between Turkey and the United States. The trial was adjourned until Oct. 12.

The North Carolina pastor has been charged with espionage and links to coup plotters and Kurdish militants and could face up to 35 years if convicted.

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