I support death penalty- Turkey's President!

Turkey's President, Edorgan, told huge crowds in Istanbul that he's willing to reinstate the death penalty as part of a post-coup realignment of the country's laws as a result of the bloody coup attempt, which

claimed 239 lives and injured nearly 2,200 others – it was the beginning of a new era of compromise.

Erdogan's government has been emboldened by the support and has seized the post-coup momentum in strengthening its grip on power. On Sunday he pledged that if parliament approved the reintroduction death penalty he would enthusiastically sign it into law.

"Sovereignty belongs to the nation. Without any condition. Since you are demanding the death penalty, the authority that will decide on this is the great Turkish national assembly," he said in his speech to the huge crowd.

"After our parliament takes such a decision the step to be taken is apparent. If it comes to my approval I hereby express that I will approve it."

EU leaders have previously stated that if Turkey were to reintroduce the death penalty, it would effectively end the country's application to join the bloc.