Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency for three months following the failed coup attempt on July 15.
Erdogan made the announcement on July 20 during a live television broadcast following meetings in Ankara with his cabinet and the country’s national security council.
Earlier, Erdogan said during an interview with Al-Jazeera aired on July 20 that foreign countries could have been involved in the coup attempt, although he declined to name any country.
Erdogan said the organization led by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the coup, was led by a "superior mind."
Erdogan also dismissed suggestions that Turkish democracy was under any threat and that he was becoming authoritarian.
"We will remain within a democratic parliamentary system, we will never step away from it," he said.
Erdogan also said he would approve a parliamentary measure to reinstate the death penalty even if it would jeopardize Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
His comments came as Dutch, German, and Canadian foreign ministers expressed concern in Washington on July 20 about the scale of the crackdown by Turkish authorities after the coup attempt and called on Turkey to respect the rule of law.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
