Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday said the country's state of emergency will only end when "everything has calmed down," according to local media, dpa reported. The leader told reporters on a plane returning from Pakistan that he will continue ruling by decree "until everything has calmed down and everything is back in order," according to broadcaster NTV. It is unclear at what point that will be. Turkey instated a state of emergency in response to a failed coup attempt in July and has since purged thousands from the civil service and judicial system, while also jailing thousands, including scores of journalists. Since the July 15 coup, the state of emergency has been renewed twice. It is currently set to expire on April 19. The Turkish government blames the plot on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, a one-time ally of the government who denies the charges.
