Erdogan: Turkey's state of emergency to be extended by three months

Istanbul (dpa) - Turkey‘s state of emergency is set to be extended by another three months, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Thursday, meaning it will be in place at the start of 2017.Erdogan said the state of emergency was required to combat threats against the government, following a failed coup attempt in July.His remarks come after the National Security Council recommended extending the country‘s state of emergency, which gives Erdogan and the government sweeping powers, drawing concern from the country‘s main opposition group, which called for the measures to end.Erdogan has used the emergency laws to issue decrees to close down institutions, including media outlets, and fire more than 50,000 civil servants and suspend tens of thousands more.The government blames the coup on Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Turkish cleric who denies the charges. Ankara is demanding his extradition from the United States. Turkey has arrested 32,000 people since the failed coup.Measures taken since July have targeted alleged supports of Gulen but have also affected Kurdish media outlets and leaders, ostensibly on terror-related charges.The cabinet must still approve the move, amid growing concern about Erdogan‘s increasingly authoritarian leadership.