The Turkish government is ready to work with all the main opposition parties in drafting a new constitution, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, after months of deadlock on the issue.

"All the main parties are ready to start work on a new constitution," Mr Yildirim told reporters in Ankara.

He said this was made clear in a meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and two opposition leaders earlier in the day.

It comes as it was announced that the first bridge over the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul is to be renamed after the victims of the failed 15 July coup bid.

The bridge, opened in 1973 and known until now simply as Bosphorus Bridge, will now be known as July 15 Martyrs' Bridge, Mr Yildirim told reporters after a late night cabinet meeting.

Erdogan says Turkish people want death penalty restored



Meanwhile, President Erdogan has said the Turkish people want the death penalty restored and those governing the country must listen to them.

He made the comments despite European officials saying such a move would immediately stop Ankara's European Union accession process.

"What do the (Turkish) people say today?" Mr Erdogan asked during an interview with German television station ARD that was broadcast today.

"They want the death penalty reintroduced. And we as the government must listen to what the people say. We can't say 'no,that doesn't interest us.'"

Earlier, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that if Turkey reintroduces the death penalty - something the government has said it must consider, responding to calls from supporters at public rallies for coup leaders to be executed - it would stop the EU accession process immediately.