Turkey's Erdogan says emergency rule could be extended upon expiry
The state of emergency imposed on Turkey after a failed coup last July could be extended further after it expires this month, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
Emergency rule enables the government to bypass parliament in enacting new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms when deemed necessary.
"If the time expires, we'll extend it. There is no obstacle in front of it," Erdogan told broadcaster TGRT.
Erdogan made his comments days before a referendum in which Turks will vote on replacing Turkey's parliamentary system for an executive presidency, marking the biggest change in Turkey's political system in its modern history.
