Turkey's top national security body chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said a three-month state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 coup bid should be extended when it expires in October.

"The decision was taken to recommend extending the state of emergency in order to continue ensuring the protection of our democracy, rule of law, rights and freedoms of our citizens in an efficient manner," the National Security Council (MGK) said in a statement after a meeting in Ankara at Erdogan's presidential palace.