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Ergenekon arrests continued in Turkey

13 April 2009 09:13 (UTC +04:00)

The prosecutors issued warrant for arrest of 50 persons and search in their houses and offices, APA reports quoting the Turkish news agencies. Operations, targeted the supporters of secular government system in Turkey and opponents of AKP, were conducted in 18 provinces. Police conducted searches in the central and regional offices of the Modern Life Support Organization, in the houses and offices of organization leader Professor Turkan Saylanâ€™s, Bashkent Univesity and Kanal B television owner Mehmet Haberal, in the universityâ€™s hospitals, in the houses of former rector of the Inonu University Professor Fateh Hilmioghlu, former rector of Uludagh University, executive chairman of the Organization of Ataturk Ideas Professor Mustafa Yudrguran, former rector of 19 May University, Professor Ferit Bernay. Those persons are expected to be arrested. The opposition accused the government in distracting the attention from the AKPâ€™s failure in the last elections and actions toward the opening of borders with Armenia.

Hundreds of people were arrested so far as a result of Ergenekon operation. Some of them were released later. Two indictments were prepared on Ergenekon case and trial on the first indictment is still going on.