Merkel, EU urge Erdogan to treat coup plotters lawfully

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and senior EU officials on Saturday condemned "in the strongest terms" the failed coup in Turkey, but called on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to deal with the plotters lawfully.

The treatment "of those responsible for the tragic events of last night can and should only be handled according to the rule of law," she said after the coup bid, which left more than 250 people dead.

Several senior military figures, and a top judge have been detained since the coup attempt, and over 2,500 other judges across the country dismissed.

The government also said that almost 3,000 soldiers had been arrested in a major purge of the armed forces.

Addressing Erdogan but not mentioning him by name, Merkel said that "democracy, which respects everybody's rights and protects minorities, is the best foundation (for the rule of law)".

Germany stands by "all those who, in Turkey, defend democracy and the rule of law," she said, adding that political change should only take place through parliament.

Senior European figures echoed Merkel's message, with EU parliament president Martin Schulz stressing that the Turkish government "must not use this occasion to breach democratic rule, restrict freedom of speech and fundamental rights".

"One-man rule and arbitrary decisions are not acceptable in a country which is not only a strategic ally but also an accession candidate to the European Union," he said.

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in a joint statement with the bloc's enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn, condemned the coup attempt and voiced support for Turkey's "democratic institutions".

The statement urged restraint from the police and security forces in their response to the coup plotters, "to prevent further casualties".

"Societal tensions can only be addressed through democratic processes," Mogherini said.