Turkish leadership should carefully consider next steps - Council of Europe

A supporter of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan celebrates in Istanbul, Turkey, April 16, 2017. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

PARIS (Reuters) - The Turkish leadership should think carefully about its next steps, the Council of Europe said on Sunday, given the close result in the country's referendum over granting new powers to President Tayyip Erdogan. "The Turkish electorate has voted on the amendments to the Constitution. In view of the close result the Turkish leadership should consider the next steps carefully," Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said in a statement. "It is of utmost importance to secure the independence of the judiciary in line with the principle of rule of law enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council of Europe, of which Turkey is a full member, stands ready to support the country in this process," he added. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Gilbert Reilhac; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)