Turkish prosecutors carry out new search of military premises

Istanbul - Prosecutors on Tuesday carried out another search of a military directorate in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Turkey's deputy prime minister, media reports said. The search came two days after the Turkish military Saturday reported that eight of its officers were arrested in connection with the alleged plot.

In a note posted on its website, the General Staff said that the officers from the military's Mobilization Regional Directorate in Ankara were detained during a search of their offices by public prosecutors.

An investigation was launched last week after a guard at the home of Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc noticed suspicious activity near the property.

According to Turkish press reports, two members of the military who were parked near Arinc's house were arrested on December 19 but later released.

In a statement released on its website, the military said the two were conducting surveillance "regarding a military personnel member living in the area and who is suspected to leak information."

There are concerns that the arrests could lead to increased tension between the liberal Islamic government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the traditionally secularist military.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301241,turkish-prosecutors-carry-out-new-search-of-military-premises.html.