Former Turkish president threatens suicide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Turkish president Kenan Evren, who lead a 1980 military coup, has said he would commit suicide if changes to the constitution lead to him being put on trial.



"I give my word to everyone in front of my people. I will not leave this to the judiciary. I would commit suicide," Evren was reported as telling Hurriyet newspaper.



Evren, who was chief of General Staff when the army seized power amid violence between leftists and right-wing groups, made his comments after members of the ruling AK Party and the main opposition CHP Party held talks to discuss reforming an article in the constitution that bans prosecuting leaders of the coup.



The constitution was drawn up under military rule.



Turkey's military, which has removed three governments in the last 50 years, has seen its public influence wane in recent years as the Muslim country has pushed liberal reforms aimed at winning membership of the European Union.



The armed forces, one of Turkey's most respected institutions according to surveys, has been recently put on the defensive over a series of incidents, including a reported army plot to undermine the Islamist-rooted AK Party government.



The military has disowned the alleged plot, which has raised tensions between the armed forces and the government.



Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said he will press on with an investigation into the alleged plot, reported by a newspapers last week, and has called on the military to do the same. Reuters reported.