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Turkish top officers arrested

22 February 2010 12:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Fourteen members of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), including retired generals and colonels on active duty, were detained on Monday as part of an investigation into an alleged coup plot named the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) Security Operation Action Plan, APA reports quoting Haberturk. The plot was allegedly devised by the military members of Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal organization accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Retired Former Air Forces Commander Gen. Ibrahim FÄ±rtÄ±na, who was interrogated in January by prosecutors as part of the investigation into Ergenekon, was detained yesterday as well as retired Gen. Engin Alan and 10 army colonels. There were also searches in the homes of retired First Army Commander Gen. Ã‡etin DoÄŸan and retired Gen. SÃ¼ha Tanyeli. The Sledgehammer plan is believed to have been masterminded by DoÄŸan. FÄ±rtÄ±na was called to testify as a suspect in January and reportedly had to answer questions on his role in the Sledgehammer coup plot. The plot mentions a TSK plan to get rid of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government through subversive means, such as attacking mosques with bombs. Among the detainees was also former Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ã–zden Ã–rnek. Ã–rnek is the author of controversial diaries that revealed that four force commanders had made plans in 2004 to stage two military coups. Ã–rnekâ€™s diaries detail coup plans and form the basis of the second Ergenekon indictment, which was submitted to court in early May 2009.
In the meantime, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker BaÅŸbuÄŸ announced that he postponed his planned visit to Egypt.