Turkey

Ex-generals charged with anti-government plot

Article published on the 2008-07-06 Latest update 2008-07-06 13:20 TU

An anti-government demonstration last year
(Photo: Reuters)

A Turkish court has charged two former generals with "setting up and leading an armed gang" which aimed to topple the Justice and Development Party government. Eight other people have beeen charged in connection with the so-called Ergenekon network, which allegedly plotted a campaign of destablisation to drive the neo-Islamists out of power.

Media reports say that the two former four-star generals, Hursit Tolon and Sener Eruygur, have been charged in connection with the shadowy grouping.

They were among 21 suspects rounded up in five cities on Tuesday. The remaining 11 have been freed but at last nine have been forbidden to leave the country.

The media claim that the network plotted to stir up illegal protets, assasinations and clashes with the security forces so as to destablise the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Supreme Court recently ruled that an AKP-backed law to allow the wearing of the Islamic veil by students was unconstitutional and moves are under way which may lead to the party being banned.

The self-styled "secular" opposition has staged a number of demonstrations against the AKP, which has its roots in the Islamist movement, accusing it of having a hidden agenda.

Eruygur is chairman of the hardline secularist association which organised the protests and was alleged to have been involved in a 2004 generals' plot to overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Lawyers for the two generals deny the accusations.