World

Calm urged after Turkey arrests

by Jordan Yerman | July 2, 2008 at 04:55 am

317 views | 7 Recommendations | 3 comments

25 people have been arrested in Turkey in connection with an alleged anti-government plot. Amongst the arrests are retired generals and journalists. Meanwhile, the opposition party is calling the exercise a "witch hunt".

A senior Turkish general has called for calm after a wave of arrests during a police investigation into a suspected anti-government plot.

Two retired generals were among 20 people detained in arrests targeting a shadowy ultra-nationalist group.

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied the arrests were politically-motivated.

The former military police chief Sener Eruygur and Hursit Tolon, former army number two, were among 25 people taken into custody in Ankara early yesterday in the latest twist in investigations that began last year.

Dozens of people – including another retired general and a prominent ultra-nationalist lawyer – are already in custody on charges of "provoking armed rebellion against the government".

Simultaneous raids took place in Ankara, Istanbul and three other cities targeting alleged members of the Ergenekon group on Tuesday.

At least 20 people were arrested, including figures from the military and journalism.

Former Gen Sener Eruygur - involved in organising anti-government rallies last year - and ex Gen Hursit Tolon were the highest ranking officials arrested so far.