Ankara, Oct 9 (IANS): The United States Mission to Turkey on Sunday said that it has suspended processing all non-immigrant visa applications at its diplomatic facilities in the country.

A statement issued by the US Embassy in Ankara on Sunday said recent events had forced the US government to reassess the commitment of the Turkish government to the security of US facilities and staff.

"In order to minimise the number of visitors to our Embassy and Consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey," Aljazeera quoted the statement as saying.

There was no immediate reaction from Ankara.

The move comes days after the arrest of a US consulate employee in Istanbul for alleged links to Fethullah Gulen -- a US-based cleric blamed by Ankara for a failed coup attempt last year.

Washington said it was "deeply disturbed" by the employee's arrest.