Tensions rise as Turkish military chiefs meet over coup plot arrests

Turkey's military has described the detention of scores of retired officers over an alleged plot to topple the government as a ''serious situation''.

All serving generals and admirals met at the headquarters of the chiefs of staff in Ankara on Tuesday to evaluate the arrest of more than 40 former officers, the army said on its website. The former officers, including previous heads of the air force and navy, were detained by police on Monday in raids across the country.

The arrests were the latest escalation of tensions between the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the military. Erdogan has taken measures to curtail the military's role in politics as Turkey chases European Union membership.

The secular military has toppled four governments since 1960, including a predecessor of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, which it suspects of introducing Islam into politics.

Possible military responses may range from mass resignation to a statement expressing faith in the judicial process, said Etyen Mahcupyan, the director of the democratization program at Tesev, an Istanbul research institute. ''For the General Staff the situation is extremely serious and this meeting reflects their need to decide on some kind of stance to adopt,'' he said.

On Tuesday seven former officers were remanded in custody in connection with the alleged plot, the Anatolia news agency reported.

They included two active-duty admirals, two retired admirals, a retired one-star general and two retired colonels. Six other suspects were released after questioning, Anatolia said.

The detentions follow a report in Taraf newspaper on January 21 that army officers drafted a plan in 2003 to stage bombings that would undermine confidence in Erdogan's government.

The Chief of General Staff, Ilker Basbug, called the allegations in Taraf ''unconscionable''.

Source: Kavkaz Center.
Link: http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2010/02/24/11488.shtml.