15 Jul 2008

86 accused of plot to overthrow govt in Turkey

8:59 am on 15 July 2008

Prosecutors in Turkey have filed indictments against 86 people accused of planning to overthrow the government.

Some 48 are already in custody. They include the head of a small nationalist party, a nationalist newspaper editor and retired army officers.

The charges also include incitement to armed insurrection, aiding a terror group and possession of explosives.

The suspects were detained as part of an investigation into an ultra-nationalist group known as Ergenekon.

The BBC reports the inquiry was began after the discovery of a cache of explosives in a house in Istanbul a year ago.

Opponents of the governmentclaim the case is revenge for court moves to outlaw the ruling AK Party and ban Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul from party politics.

There have been four coups against elected governments in Turkey in the past 50 years.