Turkish Ex-Military Chief Suspect in Anti-Government Case

Turkish media reports say prosecutors have named a former chief of Turkey's military as a suspect in an Internet campaign aimed at destabilizing the country's Islamic-based government.

State-run news agencies say retired General Ilker Basbug has been called to answer questions in connection with a trial of current and former officers linked to the so-called secularist network, Ergenekon.

Prosecutors say the group plotted in 2003 to bring down the government through bombings and other attacks to discredit the government and trigger a military coup against the ruling Justice and Development Party. Turkey's military ousted four governments between 1960 and 1997.

Turkish authorities have detained more than 300 people including journalists, academics and politicians as part of a wide-reaching investigation into Ergenekon.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

Source: http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=202479644

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