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    July 30, 2011

Turkish President Vows No Military Power Vacuum

   Dorian Jones
   Turkey's President Abdullah Gul, left, and Chief of Staff General Isik
   Kosaner, in Ankara, Turkey, May 19, 2011 (file photo)
   Photo: AP
   Turkey's President Abdullah Gul, left, and Chief of Staff General Isik
   Kosaner, in Ankara, Turkey, May 19, 2011 (file photo)

   Turkish President Abdullah Gul says the resignation of Turkey's entire
   military command Friday will not cause a crisis.
   Gul spoke to reporters Saturday in Ankara. He said the resignations
   were "extraordinary," but said there will be no power vacuum.
   General Necdet Ozel is expected to be appointed Turkey's top military
   commander Saturday.
   The head of the armed forces, General Isik Kosaner, and the army, naval
   and air commanders resigned amid escalating tensions between the
   secularist military and Islamic-rooted government.
   The resignations came after Kosaner met with Prime Minister Recep
   Tayyip Erdogan and President Gul to discuss key promotions of military
   staff at a meeting of the Supreme Military Council next week. Erdogan
   is reported to have signaled he would block promotions for officers he
   believed were part of a conspiracy to bring down his government.
   Authorities have detained more than 300 people as part of a
   wide-reaching investigation into alleged plots to undermine the
   government. Some 200 active and retired military officers, including 30
   generals, have been charged in the probe. Most of the officers who have
   been charged are being held in prison.
   Kosaner said in his resignation statement that he cannot defend the
   rights of those military men who are unfairly imprisoned.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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