Turkish state of emergency declared after parliament votes in favour

Turkey's parliament on Thursday afternoon approved the implementation of a three-month nationwide state of emergency by a vote of 346 to 115.

The vote is the latest development in the wake of the failed military coup last Friday which has seen the mass detention and sacking of public sector workers, academics and military officials.

Earlier on Thursday, a government spokesman said that the country would suspend its obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the measure would not affect fundamental rights and freedoms and compared the situation in Turkey to France, where a state of emergency has been in place since last November's Islamic State group attacks in Paris.

"France proclaimed a state of emergency too, and they have suspended the ECHR under article 15 of the convention," said Kurtulmus, who said the measure would be formally announced later in a statement.

Article 15 allows parties who have ratified the ECHR to derogate from some obligations during times of war or public emergency.

The article states there should be no derogation from article 2, the right to life; article 3 prohibiting torture; paragraph 1 of article 4 banning slavery; and article 7, which states all punishment should fit statutory law.

These articles must be upheld "except in respect of deaths resulting from lawful acts of war".

Kurtulmus said that the state of emergency could last for less than the declared three-month period.

"We want to end the state of emergency as soon as possible," he said.

"If conditions return to normal, we think it will take a one or one-and-a-half month period at the maximum. I hope there will be no need for a further extension."

The state of emergency is just the latest measure taken since a faction within the military attempted to seize control of the government on Friday.

Turkey has been accused of waging a purge since last Friday's attempted coup in which thousands of military personnel and public officials have been detained or dismissed.

But Kurtulmus said: “I want to guarantee that fundamental rights and freedoms and normal daily life will not be affected by this. Our citizens should feel comfortable about that."

Turkey's justice ministry on Wednesday released a list of 99 generals and admirals charged in connection with the coup, representing about a third of the military's top brass.

The defence ministry also said it had launched investigations into every single military judge and prosecutor in Turkey. 

A total of 262 military judges and prosecutors have already been removed as part the investigation, it said.

The country's higher education board meanwhile banned all academics from foreign travel. It announced 6,538 state workers had been suspended on Wednesday, bringing total suspensions to more than 20,000.

The education ministry launched action to shut 524 schools, for "engaging in acts that threaten the constitutional order".

More than 20,000 private teachers have also had their licences revoked.