Turkish generals deny involvement in coup plot

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug gathered active duty military generals at an extraordinary meeting at the General Staff in the Turkish capital on Tuesday evening, reportedly to discuss the position of the armed forces in the wake of a fresh wave of detentions of nearly 50 retired and active duty members of the military as part of a coup plot investigation.



The meeting was attended by 15 generals, who evaluated the “serious situation” that erupted amid the Ergenekon investigation being conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to a statement posted on the General Staff Web site late Tuesday.



All generals who attended Tuesday’s meeting denied involvement in the alleged plans and some even offered to submit their resignations rather than be faced with such accusations. The generals, however, did not discuss whether to issue a harsh statement against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government over the detentions, Тoday's Zaman reported.



Dozens of senior officers, including a former Deputy Chief of General Staff, retired Army General Ergin Saygun have been arrested on charges of plotting a coup in Turkey. A former Air Force commander, retired Army General Fyrtyna Ibrahim, a former Navy commander, Admiral retired Omek Ozgen, a retired general Engin Alan are among the detainees.



According to the source, 10 colonels, four admirals, 17 generals (some of them are retired) were arrested. 50 arrests were held in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.



Over the past 50 years there were four military coups in Turkey: on May 27, 1960, on March 12, 1971, on September 12, 1980 and on February 28, 1997.