Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey President declared three month state of emergency following failed military coup against his government. He said he was forced to take the extreme step to counter imminent threats to the democracy in the country. He said he has no intentions to curb the freedom of people.
He announced his decision after holding meeting with his top security advisors and cabinet ministers. He said the decision was taken to eliminate the treat against democracy,people's rights and freedoms and the rule of law.
He said his decision to impose emergency was not against democracy and it is in contrary aims to protect it. President Erdogan faced three coup attempts to dislodge his government and he said he narrowly escaped being killed or captured by renegade military units.
Turkey had marital law in 1987 as security forces fought Kurdish rebels and it was lifted only in 2002. Erdogan said 24 coup lotter were killed and the pro-government death toll in the botched coup was 246. He said the coup plotters network might be still active and may be preparing for counter strikes in the coming days.
