Turkish Police Question Suspects Involved in Anti-Governmental Plot

Turkey’s military leadership held emergency talks on Tuesday, following a rash of arrests on Monday.

Photo: Turkish Police Question Suspects Involved in Anti-Governmental Plot

Retired commanders in the air force and navy, and the former deputy chief of the armed forces are among 49 people being detained and questioned. A television network in the country reported that 10 officers were brought to court in Istanbul. Authorities are investigating whether they had any part in planning an alleged coup in 2003, euronews reports.

Turkish police on Tuesday questioned military officers detained a day earlier and others were brought to court over an alleged plot to bring down the Islamist-rooted government, broadcasters said.

The dawn swoop has fuelled political strains and unsettled financial markets in European Union candidate Turkey, adding to tensions generated by a clash between the ruling AK Party and the secularist judiciary.

The Turkish lira and shares weakened in morning trade as the investigation hurt investor sentiment. Twenty-nine of those detained are currently being questioned at Istanbul police headquarters, news broadcaster NTV reported.

Ten officers were separately brought to an Istanbul court on Tuesday morning, state-run Anatolian news agency reported. The court will later rule on whether to remand them in custody.

The detainees were being questioned on suspicion of forming a group with the aim of overthrowing the government, according to CNN Türk news channel.

Current armed forces chief General Ilker Basbug has postponed a trip to Egypt as a result of the investigation. The military has not commented on the issue yet, Daily Times informs.