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More Officers Charged in 2003 Turkish Coup Plot

   VOA News 26 February 2010

   Turkey's  Prime  Minister  Recep  Tayyip  Erdogan  says  no one should
   consider themselves above the law.
   His  remarks  to lawmakers Friday come after an additional 11 military
   officers were charged with involvement in an alleged 2003 coup plot.
   The  latest suspects include two admirals and a retired general.  They
   will stay in jail pending a trial.
   Authorities  have  arrested  thirty-one  officers so far in connection
   with the alleged plot, raising tensions with the armed forces.
   Earlier,  the  court  released  three senior retired military officers
   after  questioning.   Prosecutors  said  the  men were not immediately
   charged because they were unlikely to flee.
   The  three  include  ex-navy  commander  Ozden Ornek, former air force
   chief Ibrahim Firtina, and former army deputy chief Ergin Saygun.
   The  ex-navy  chief  said he clarified "some misunderstandings" during
   questioning by prosecutors.
   Turkey's  political  leaders  and  top military chief met Thursday and
   issued  a  joint statement assuring citizens the probe will be handled
   legally and responsibly.
   Mr.  Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul met for about three hours with
   Commander General Ilker Basbug.
   Prime Minister Erdogan said Thursday's meeting went well and dismissed
   opposition calls for early elections.
   Reports  say  the  suspected  plan  was  aimed  at  destabilizing  the
   government  by planting bombs in mosques and provoking Greece to shoot
   down a Turkish jet.
   The military has ousted four Turkish governments in the past 50 years.
   Some information for this report provide by AFP and AP.

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