EU concerned about arrests in Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net -
The European Union voiced concern over allegations of a military coup plot in Turkey on Tuesday, as the country's top brass held a crisis meeting and investigators grilled senior defense figures.



“All the generals and admirals of the Turkish military met in the headquarters of the chief of army staff to evaluate the serious situation," a Turkish military statement said, without elaborating.



Police detained more than 40 suspects Monday over a purported plan codenamed "Operation Sledgehammer" to topple the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) administration, dating back to 2003. The suspects allegedly planned to bomb mosques and escalate tensions with Greece in a bid to force the downing of a Turkish jet, thus discrediting the government and forcing its downfall.



Seventeen retired generals and four active-duty admirals were among those detained on charges of "attempting to remove the government through force and violence" and brought for questioning in Istanbul, reports said.



A spokesman for European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said on Tuesday the allegations are a "serious matter of concern" and "Turkish citizens are entitled to hear the entire truth on theses cases."



Among those arrested are ex-air force chief Ibrahim Firtina, former navy chief Ozden Ornek and the former head of the Istanbul-based First Army, Cetin Dogan, who is accused of spearheading the plot. The generals are expected to be questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday before being brought before a judge to face possible charges, AFP reported.