Turkey must protect the rule of law following the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday, after authorities detained 6,000 in a ruthless crackdown.

"We are the ones saying today rule of law has to be protected in the country," Mogherini said as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels. "It needs to be protected for the sake of the country."