Ankara: Turkey's deputy premier said Thursday the state of emergency announced to fight plotters of last week's failed coup may only last up to 45 days, despite being declared for a three-month span.
"We want to end the state of emergency as soon as possible," Numan Kurtulmus said in quotes carried by private NTV television.
"If conditions return to normal, we think it will take a one or one-and-a-half month period at the maximum. I hope there will be no need for a further extension."
Turkey imposed a state of emergency as it presses ahead with a crackdown on suspects accused of staging the failed coup, blamed by the government on supporters of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Kurtulmus insisted that no steps would be taken to restrict basic rights and freedoms, telling journalists that "the decision on the state of emergency is aimed at cleansing the state of the gang" of conspirators.
