Europe News

Turkey's ex-military head arrested in ongoing coup investigation

Jan 6, 2012, 9:57 GMT

A file picture dated 28 August 2008 shows the then Turkish General Staff new Commander Ilker Basbug EPA/ATES TUMER

Istanbul - A Turkish general who headed the country's military until his 2010 retirement was arrested Friday on charges of leading a terrorist group plotting to overthrow the government, Turkey's state news agency Anatolian reported.

Ilker Basbug if the former head of the Turkish General Staff.

Anatolian reported that Basbug was interrogated for seven hours regarding allegations that he has conspired as head of a secret organization to overthrow by force the elected government of Turkey.

After a medical examination, Basbug was imprisoned in Silivri Prison near Istanbul, pending further questioning.

Basbug's arrest appears to stem from a three-year investigation into the 'Ergenekon' group, which stands accused of plotting to overthrow the moderate Islamist government of Tayyip Erdogan.

To date, around 400 suspects in the Ergenekon plot have been arrested and charged, including 58 generals and admirals currently serving in the Turkish military, as well as dozens of intellectuals, academics, former and serving civil servants, and even journalists.

However, despite more than three years of hearings, none have yet been found guilty of the charges against them.

Basbug, who retired in 2010, Thursday gave evidence in a trial of a group of journalists alleged to have operated a news website which secretly supported the Ergenekon group and which Turkey's military now stands accused of funding.

Tensions between the government and the military have been on the rise since the Ergenekon plot was first alleged in 2009.

Following Basbug's retirement last year, his successor resigned unexpectedly in protest at the ongoing Ergenekon trials, together with the heads of three of the four branches of the military.