More officers jailed in Turkey coup plot investigation

Istanbul - A Turkish court Friday jailed, pending trial, 11 more high-ranking military officers as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged plot to topple the country's liberal Islamic government. A total of 31 officers, both serving and retired, have now been jailed in the investigation, among them several admirals and generals.

At the same time, the court released the former chiefs of the Navy and Air Force, who had been arrested on Monday as part of a group of 49 high-ranking military commanders who were rounded up on Monday in connection with the alleged coup plan.

The plot, dubbed "Sledgehammer," allegedly aimed to create chaos and political turbulence in the hopes of removing the liberal Islamic government of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The 2003 plan possibly included the bombing of popular mosques and the ratcheting up of military tensions with Aegean neighbor Greece. It was never carried out.

The coup allegations, which the military rejects, have led to increased tension between the government and the armed forces. Turkey's President, Prime Minister and its Chief of Staff met yesterday in Ankara in an effort to defuse the situation.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/311418,more-officers-jailed-in-turkey-coup-plot-investigation.html.