Four-star Turkish general charged over coup plot

Turkish prosecutors have charged the highest-ranking serving officer yet, a four-star general, in a widening circle of arrests of officers in a nation that has hitherto regarded its military as virtually untouchable.

The charges against General Saldiray Berk follow the detention of scores of officers last week over an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, which has its roots in political Islam.

Last week's detentions were related to an alleged plan for a military coup in 2003, but the case against Berk is more recent.

Charges laid late on Monday, according to the Anatolia news agency, accused the commander of the 3rd Army of leading "an illegal group which was working to implement the anti-Islamist plan" in the eastern province of Erzincan.

Turkish media reported that the charges brought against Berk and 15 others, including a state prosecutor, involved "Ergenekon", a suspected ultra-nationalist network said to be plotting to sow chaos in order to justify a military takeover.

More than 200 people, including retired generals, lawyers and journalists, have been charged in connection with Ergenekon. Critics accuse the AK Party government of using the investigation to hound secularist opponents.

The plan in Erzincan is alleged to have involved fomenting nationalist opposition to the government and planting weapons in houses used by followers of influential Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen to create a militant scare.

Gulen has lived in self-exile in the United States since 1999, but critics say his followers have infiltrated the police and courts, and also control newspapers critical of the army.

Clash with judiciary

The government's face-off with the secularist establishment, whose strongholds are the military and judiciary, raised fears of instability and depressed the lira and stocks and bonds last week, but markets have rallied since.

Those charged in Erzincan included Ilhan Cihaner, a state prosecutor who had investigated Islamist groups.

His detention last month sparked a row between the government and the judiciary, which called it illegal and replaced the four prosecutors who had ordered the move.

The government struck back by threatening a referendum to force through constitutional reforms of the judiciary unless parliament passes them first. Erdogan has said a reform package will be sent before parliament as soon as possible.

Risks of division

The suspects are accused of belonging to a "terrorist organization" and risk up to 15 years in jail, the Milliyet newspaper said.

Eight other soldiers and three members of Turkey's intelligence agency are among other suspects to stand trial, according to Anatolia news agency.

A Muslim country with a secular constitution, NATO-member Turkey wants to strengthen its democratic credentials to support its bid to join the European Union.

Erdogan's AK Party, which has won favor with investors despite its Islamic roots, will seek a third term in power in elections due next year.

But the unprecedented crackdown against the military that began on Feb. 22 has raised risks of dividing a society where respect for the armed forces runs deep despite its history of meddling in politics.

Close to 70 officers were detained last week in connection with the alleged "Sledgehammer" plan for a coup in 2003. Nearly half have been charged, including two retired generals.