Erdogan: Turkish citizens demand death penalty

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told supporters he is willing to reintroduce the death penalty to punish activists involved in last month’s failed coup.

Speaking to a rally of a million supporters, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would support capital punishment if the country’s parliament voted to bring it back.

In his speech to the democracy and martyrs' rally, which was broadcast live to public screens around Turkey, Erdogan said: "If the nation makes such a decision, I believe political parties will abide by this decision.

"It is the Turkish parliament that will decide on this given the sovereignty rests with the nation... I declare it in advance, I will approve the decision made by the parliament," he said.