Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has brought the armed forces and national intelligence agency under his direct control, as his Government continues its crackdown on its perceived opponents in the wake of a failed military coup.

Western governments and human rights groups have expressed concern over the scale of the purges, fearing the President may be using them to get rid of opponents and tighten his grip on power.

Since the coup, tens of thousands of people — including police, judges and teachers — have been suspended or placed under investigation.

Soldiers accused of plotting the coup. Photo: Getty.

Along with the arrests of many journalists, more than 130 media outlets, including newspapers, magazines and television stations, have been closed.

Plotters accused

The Government has said the coup was staged by a faction within the military loyal to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Since then Mr Erdogan has been ruthless in crushing those he believes were behind the coup, as well as those who had sympathy for it.

The latest purge came from within Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu making the announcement while honouring policemen and civilians killed on the night the failed coup took place.

“We are identifying the supporters of Fethullah Gulen one by one. So far, two ambassadors have been dismissed from the ministry,” Mr Cavusoglu said.

People gather in front of President Erdogan’s residence. Photo: Getty

“We dismissed 34 personnel from the ministry within this framework.”

Tens of thousands of people in state institutions including ministries, the armed forces and the police have been arrested or sacked over suspected links to Gulen and his movement.

Concerns about closure of media outlets

Mr Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possibly death on the night of the coup, denied the crackdown had wider aims and said the Gulen movement threatened democracy by attempting to build a “parallel state” within the military, media and civil service.

Western governments and human rights groups have condemned the coup, but they have also expressed concern over the scale and depth of the purges, worried about the President’s intentions.

The United States said it had been monitoring the situation closely.

A man stands in front of a car crushed by a military tank. Photo: AAP

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the move to close down media outlets had the US concerned.

“We expect Turkish authorities to uphold their assurances that the Turkish government will protect the rule of law and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Turkey to show proportionality in its pursuit of those behind the failed coup.

“Of course, when a coup attempt like this takes place in a country, it is right and important to take action against the rebels with all the means and potential of the constitutional state,” she said.

“In a constitutional state, and this is what worries me and what I am following closely, the principle of proportionality must be ensured under all circumstances.

“The worry is that the principle of proportionality is not always at the centre of this crack-down.”