Erdogan made the announcement during a live television broadcast in front of his government ministers after a almost five-hour meeting of the National Security Council. He said the state of emergency is a measure “against the terror threat facing our country”.
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German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Turkey’s state of emergency should only last as long as it’s “absolutely necessary”.
Ninety-nine of Turkey’s roughly 360 military generals have been charged over their alleged roles in the attempted coup.
“Does he have the authority to make these declarations about my person?” Pesidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said Thursday that the United States should stop letting the extradition of Fethullah Gülen be a problem between Turkey and the US, APA reports quoting Daily Sabah.
Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in Brussels Monday the US would agree to an extradition request for Gulen only if there was compelling proof of wrongdoing. He called for fair trials and the rule of law.
Erdogan was in the Aegean resort of Marmaris when the coup struck. Narrowly escaping the rebel soldiers, he flew to Istanbul where he had stayed since, appearing before huge crowds of flag-waving supporters several nights in a row. “The danger of an escalation in violence between Erdogan supporters and opponents has also risen in Germany”.
The Defence Ministry is investigating all military judges and prosecutors, and has suspended 262 of them, broadcaster NTV reported, while 900 police officers in the capital, Ankara, were also suspended on Wednesday. The death tolls given by officials range from 230 to more than 300.
Academics were banned from travelling overseas on Wednesday in what a Turkish official said was a temporary measure to prevent the risk of alleged coup plotters at universities from fleeing.
Erdogan admitted there had been “intelligence failures”, saying he had learnt about the coup from his brother-in-law.
Erdogan’s spokesman said on Tuesday the government was preparing a formal request to the United States for the extradition of Gulen.
“Only provable involvement in illegal acts, not suspected political leanings, should trigger governmental action”, Mr Steinmeier said.
Obama “lauded the Turkish people’s resolve against this violent intervention and their commitment to democracy”, the White House said.
Tuesday’s dismissals touched every aspect of government life.
But it has also taken a more symbolic step – by cutting the modest state pension of Fethullah Gulen, 75, whose Hizmet (Service) movement operates schools around the world and is also linked to media, finance and business interests.
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A former ally-turned critic of Erdogan, he suggested the president staged it as an excuse for a crackdown after a steady accumulation of control during 14 years in power. “The Gulen organization has another superior mind, if you will, and the time will come when those connections will be deciphered”.
