‘The aim of the declaration of the state of emergency is to be able to take fast and effective steps against this threat against democracy, the rule of law and rights and freedoms of our citizens, ‘ Erdogan said.
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Erdogan told supporters in Istanbul on Monday that “an important decision” would be announced after the national security council meeting, without specifying.
The coup leaders said they were acting in the name of democracy and that they wanted to “reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedom” in Turkey.
Erdogan has called on the United States to extradite Fetullah Gulen, who he believes is at least partly responsible for the coup – a charge Gulen denies. The nation would “never forget the bravery and sacrifice of those who lost their lives”, he said, adding that there had been “epics of heroic bravery throughout the night”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman on Tuesday hit out at claims that the attempted coup was orchestrated to strengthen his position. “We’re committed to market economy”, Simsek said.
A nationwide state of emergency, the first since the 1980s, came into force on Thursday, allowing the government to rule by decree, impose curfews and censor the media.
Mr Erdogan has warned of further arrests, sackings and suspensions as part of a far-reaching crackdown by Turkish authorities on those suspected of involvement in the coup.
He said it would be used to go after “rogue” elements within the state and that there would have been “carnage in the streets” had the military coup succeeded.
In the latest in a series of dramatic clampdowns following Turkey’s failed coup on Friday, academics have been temporarily banned from leaving the country.
The purge after the failed coup, which left more than 260 people dead, saw more than 50,000 civil servants fired, suspended or detained.
Turkey has long sought his return from the U.S.to face trial at home over accusations of running a “terrorist organization” seeking to overthrow Erdogan, his erstwhile ally.
Turkey has already announced the firing of 15,200 teachers at state institutions, demanded the resignations of 1,577 university deans and halted all foreign assignments for state-employed academics.
Turkey has also cut access to WikiLeaks hours after the leaking of thousands of e-mails from Erdogan’s ruling party – many of which were sent in the run-up to the coup attempt.
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Wikileaks said that although the documents were obtained before the attempted coup, the date of their publication was brought forward “in response to the government’s post-coup purges”.
