Turkey has officially requested the extradition of former Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) leader Saleh Muslim from the Czech Republic, Ankaras government spokesman said on Monday. Speaking during an interview with broadcaster NTV, Bekir Bozdag said Turkeys justice ministry had delivered the extradition request to Czech authorities and added Muslim would appear in court on Monday. Czech authorities arrested Muslim in Prague on Saturday. Czech police confirmed a 67-year-old foreigner was being held after being detained based on a Turkish Interpol notice. "Ankara Interpol staff were informed of the arrest. The police will take the standard steps in line with the law," it said. The arrest comes as Turkey presses a military operation against the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) -- the military wing of the PYD -- in the enclave of Afrin in northern Syria. On Monday, Turkey deployed police special forces to Afrin for a "new battle" in its five-week campaign against the YPG.