CHENGDU, China, July 23 (Reuters) - Turkey will strongly adhere to democratic principles and rule of law, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Saturday, referring to the government's crackdown in the aftermath of a failed military coup.

"From the very beginning, I wanted to say that despite what has happened a week ago in Turkey, that we will continue to strongly adhere to democratic principles and apply rule of law and not much really has changed. I know there are question marks," he told a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu.

The government's widening crackdown in the aftermath of a failed military coup has spooked investors, who have dumped the lira currency and sold stocks. (Reporting by David Lawder, Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

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