86 indicted on coup plot in Turkey
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
ANKARA, Jul 14 (AP) : Prosecutors indicted 86 hardline secular Turks Monday on terrorism charges for their alleged involvement in plots to topple the Islamic-rooted government, a chief prosecutor said.
Aykut Cengiz Engin said the 86 include at least one former general, along with journalists, academicians and businessmen. They were charged with either forming or being a member of a terrorist organisation or with provoking an armed uprising with the aim of bringing down Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
The suspects allegedly crafted plans to create chaos that would provoke a military coup and in turn topple Erdogan. Many believe the prime minister is eroding Turkey's secular laws and making too many concessions to Christian and Kurdish minorities as part of the nation's bid to join the European Union.
The indictment is seen as the latest episode in an ongoing power struggle between the government and secular groups supported by the military and other state institutions, including the judiciary and some trade groups. They accuse the government of attempting to raise Islam's profile in Turkey.
A court must now decide within two weeks whether to open the case.
Turkey's military, which staged three coups in the past, has criticized the government for allegedly eroding the secular system. But the top brass is believed to have controlled hawks within its ranks by occasionally issuing harsh statements against the government to appease them.
Aykut Cengiz Engin said the 86 include at least one former general, along with journalists, academicians and businessmen. They were charged with either forming or being a member of a terrorist organisation or with provoking an armed uprising with the aim of bringing down Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
The suspects allegedly crafted plans to create chaos that would provoke a military coup and in turn topple Erdogan. Many believe the prime minister is eroding Turkey's secular laws and making too many concessions to Christian and Kurdish minorities as part of the nation's bid to join the European Union.
The indictment is seen as the latest episode in an ongoing power struggle between the government and secular groups supported by the military and other state institutions, including the judiciary and some trade groups. They accuse the government of attempting to raise Islam's profile in Turkey.
A court must now decide within two weeks whether to open the case.
Turkey's military, which staged three coups in the past, has criticized the government for allegedly eroding the secular system. But the top brass is believed to have controlled hawks within its ranks by occasionally issuing harsh statements against the government to appease them.