A Turkish court has sentenced dozens of people accused of trying to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to life in prison.

Under tight security nearly 50 defendants stood trial in the city of Mulga.

They were met by protesters calling for the re-introduction of capital punishment.

The case in the south western city was held near to the luxury resort where Erdogan and his family narrowly escaped an ambush by soldiers during the failed coup attempt. The president fled in a helicopter shortly before their hotel was attacked in July 2016.

The trial in Muğla is one of several being held in the country following the attempted uprising.

Turkey says the coup was orchestrated by U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen. He has denied the charges and condemned the coup.

More than 240 people were killed during the failed coup on July 15, when a group of rogue soldiers commandeered tanks, warplanes and helicopters, attacking parliament and attempting to overthrow the government.

Since the failed coup, more than 40,000 people have been arrested and more than 100,000 have been sacked or suspended from the military, civil service and private sector.