National Security Council advises to extend state of emergency for another three months

ANKARA

Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK), the top security body in the country, advised extending the ongoing state of emergency for another three months after a meeting on April 17.

The government will act in line with the decision of the meeting, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım had said on April 13.

The extension for the seventh time is expected to be discussed at parliament on April 19.

As with previous extensions of emergency rule, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are expected to support the motion, while the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) are expected to oppose it.

Ankara declared a state of emergency for the first time on July 20, 2016, five days after a deadly military coup attempt.