Eight Turkish soldiers have been detained over 'deputy PM assassination plot'December 27, 2009 - 16:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - It said the soldiers were taken to the army headquarters in Ankara after being interrogated by a prosecutor on Friday. The arrests follow an inquiry which was launched last week after Mr Arinc said a car with two officers had been spotted several times near his house.The Turkish military denied being part of any plot. It said the officers were investigating a military official living nearby. The detentions come amid renewed speculation that there is mounting tension between the governing AK Party, which has its roots in political Islam, and the powerful armed forces. The Turkish army sees itself as the guardian of the country's secularism. Earlier this year, dozens of people, including two retired generals, journalists and academics, went on trial in Turkey accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Prosecutors argue that they were members of a shadowy ultranationalist network - dubbed Ergenekon - which allegedly aimed to provoke a military coup, BBC reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |