Turkey declares three months state of emergency

Turkey: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday declared a three-month state of emergency in the country following July 15 failed coup attempt. Erdogan said that the measure was being taken to counter threats to Turkish democracy and wasn't planned to restrain fundamental freedoms.

Speaking after a meeting with cabinet ministers and top security advisers, Erdogan said;

"The aim is to rapidly and effectively take all steps needed to eliminate the threat against democracy, the rule of law and the people's rights and freedoms,"

r"This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms," he added. "On the contrary it aims to protect and strengthen them."

The president, had earlier said he narrowly escaped assassination or been captured by rebel military units, suggesting that purges would continue within military ranks.

"As the commander in chief, I will also attend to it so that all the viruses within the armed forces will be cleansed," Erdogan said.

Erdogan said about 246 people were killed in the aftermath of the coup with at least 24 coup plotters among the dead.

Turkish authorities also announced on Wednesday that it would close more than 600 private schools and dormitories following the attempted coup.

The Turkish government said it has fired nearly 22,000 education ministry workers, majority of whom are teachers, took steps to revoke the licences of 21,000 other teachers at private schools and sacked or detained half a dozen university presidents in an ongoing campaign to root out perceived supporters of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for the failed coup on Friday.

Erdogan had earlier suggested that the coup plotters might still be active in the coming weeks.

"I don't think we have come to the end of it yet," the president said.