Turkey: Gov’t, Military into Confrontation

The former Turkish military chief General Ilker Basbug has been detained and accused of leading a terror organization and conspiring to bring down the Turkish government.

Basbug will be the most senior officer to face trial in a series of investigations into alleged anti-government plots.

He was arrested and put in prison near Istanbul Thursday night after seven hours of questioning by prosecutors investigating allegations that the military funded dozens of websites aimed at discrediting the Islamic-rooted government of the PM, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in 2009.

Some suspects who have already been charged, including senior generals and admirals, have said they acted in a chain of command.

Basbug, who retired in August 2010, led the military at the time.

Basbug told journalists before being taken to prison: "The 26th chief of military staff of the Turkish republic is being accused of forming and leading a terror organization. I leave it up to the great Turkish people to decide."


Source: News Agency, Edited by moqawama.org