Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to overhaul role of president

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Turkish leaders submitted a bill Saturday to focus power in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office, a move that will change the country's constitution and give the president more powers.

Justice and Development Party deputy parliamentary group chair Mustafa Elitas submitted the draft with 316 signatures. If it is accepted in a vote that would happen in the late spring or summer, the changes would go into effect in 2019.

The move comes as some 35 people were arrested in Turkey after prosecutors issued warrants for 55 people suspected of backing U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen.

Turkish officials said those subject to arrest are part of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization and worked to finance the group's operations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the group is behind a coup attempt on July 15.

Police raided some 57 locations and said the suspects were involved in transferring large sums of cash between Turkey, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kazakhstan since 2014.

Among those arrested were business leaders and air traffic controllers. The operation to apprehend the remain 20 suspects is underway, sources told Anadolu Agency