Turkey extends state of emergency declared after failed coup

Turkey’s parliament approves a three-month extension of the state of emergency declared in the wake of last year’s failed coup.

Government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus told parliament Tuesday that the state of emergency serves to purge the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Turkey blames Gulen and his supporters for orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt, a charge he denies.

The state of emergency allows the government to rule by decrees.

Kurtulmus says the unusual powers are needed to effectively combat Kurdish militants, the Islamic State group and other threats from Syria. He says it has not negatively affected the public.

An estimated 100,000 people have been dismissed from their jobs with decrees and more than 40,000 arrested since the state of emergency came into effect on July 21.

— AP