Govt rounds up 6,000 suspects after failed coup

Turkish authorities on Sunday pressed on with a ruthless crackdown against suspects in the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with 6,000 people including generals detained in action that has sparked international concern.

World leaders including US President Barack Obama have strongly condemned the attempted putsch but also urged Turkey to respect the rule of law in its aftermath, especially after pictures emerged showing the rough treatment of some coup plotters when arrested.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Sunday that around 6,000 people had been detained and the number would rise.

"The cleanup operations are continuing," he said.

According to the government, 161 civilians and regular troops lost their lives when a group within the army sought to overthrow the authorities by seizing key strategic points in Istanbul and Ankara late on Friday.

Over 100 coup plotters were also killed, the military has said.

Biggest challenge

The botched coup bid was the biggest challenge to Erdogan's rule in his 13 years as prime minister and now president. But he successfully mobilized supporters into the streets to face down the plotters.

Thousands responded late on Saturday to a new call by the president to pour into the squares to celebrate the "victory of democracy" with mass rallies of flag-waving Turks reported in cities including Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir.

Europe Minister Omer Celik urged people to stay on the streets, writing on Twitter that the "vigil for democracy" continues.

Turkish television has shown images of captured suspects forced to lie face down on the tarmac after their arrest while AFP photographers have seen suspects roughly led away pursued by angry mobs.