Turkey extends state of emergency for 90 days

Turkey will extend a state of emergency imposed after the failed coup last July for another three months starting from 19 October, the government said on Monday.

The decision was announced after a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his presidential palace in Ankara.

"The state of emergency will be extended for another 90 days starting October 19 from 1 am," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told a news conference after the cabinet meeting.

The decision still needs to be put to a vote in the 550-seat parliament but it is certain to be passed as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) enjoys a majority in the house. 

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has accused the government of using the abortive putsch to stifle dissent.

Erdogan, however, defended Turkey's actions by pointing to France which has extended emergency since the Islamic State-claimed attacks on Paris in November. The opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has also voiced support for the extension.

The government says basic freedoms will not be undermined. It says the state of emergency is needed to hunt down suspects in the failed putsch, blamed by authorities on US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.

"The extension means we are still taking certain steps to address vital challenges to our democracy," a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied he was involved in the coup bid.

Erdogan has criticised the United States for its failure to heed Turkey's calls for Gulen's extradition. 

"When America asks us to send back terrorists, we ship them as a package but we haven't seen the same response from our strategic partner," Erdogan said in televised comments.

"You haven't extradited one terrorist who has lived in luxury for 17 years."