Turkey's Erdogan declares state of emergency after coup bid

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency on Wednesday 

as he widened 

a crackdown against thousands of Those moves come after the detention of more 

than 6,000 members of the armed forces - from foot soldiers to commanders - and 

the suspension of close to 3,000 judges and prosecutors. About 8,000 police officers, 

including in Ankara and the biggest city Istanbul, have also been removed.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday voiced "serious alarm" at the mass suspension of judges and prosecutors and urged Turkey to allow independent monitors to visit those who have been detained.

One of the ruling party's most senior figures, Mustafa Sentop, on Wednesday called for the restoration of the death penalty for crimes aimed at changing the constitutional order. But it was not immediately clear if Erdogan would back the move urged by his ally in comments to broadcaster NTV.

Erdogan's spokesman said on Tuesday the government was preparing a formal request to the United States for the extradition of Gulen. U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the status of Gulen in a telephone call with Erdogan on Tuesday, the White House said, urging Ankara to show restraint as it pursues those responsible for the failed coup.

Gulen, 75, whose religious movement blends conservative Islamic values with a pro-Western outlook, lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, but has a network of supporters within Turkey. He has condemned the abortive coup and denied any role in it.

Gulen spokesman Alp Aslandogan told Reuters Television on Wednesday that the Turkish government had arrested and persecuted the cleric's supporters in Turkey since 2014, after his followers in the judiciary and police helped lead a corruption probe into senior politicians and business people close to Erdogan.

But efforts to repress Gulen's followers have mushroomed since the thwarted coup, said Aslandogan, who spoke outside Gulen's home in the Pocono Mountains.

"This is resembling the pre-genocidal periods in fascist Europe. These are very alarming signs and we are very concerned," he said.

Washington has said it would consider Gulen's extradition only if clear evidence was provided, prompting Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim to accuse the United States of double standards in its fight against terrorism.

Erdogan struck a more conciliatory note in his comments to Al Jazeera, saying he did not want to link the issue of U.S. use of Turkey's Incirlik airbase with Ankara's request for Gulen's extradition.

The airbase is key to the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State.

"We need to be more sensitive. Relations between our countries are based on interests, not feelings. We are strategic partners," Erdogan said.

Any extradition request would face legal and political hurdles in the United States. Even if approved by a judge, it would still have to go to Secretary of State John Kerry, who can consider non-legal factors, such as humanitarian arguments.

The threat of prolonged instability in Turkey, which had not seen a violent military coup for more than three decades, has shaken investors' confidence.

The lira fell to a record low after ratings agency Standard & Poor's cut Turkey's foreign currency credit rating, citing the fragmentation of the political landscape and saying it expected a period of heightened unpredictability.

The Istanbul stock index is down 9.5 percent so far this week, its worst three-day performance since 2013.

Seeking to prevent damage to the economy, Erdogan said in his televised address that his government would not abandon fiscal discipline and that it was not facing liquidity problems.