Seven charged in Turkish probe into alleged coup plot: report

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

ISTANBUL (AFP) — A Turkish court on Saturday remanded seven people, including a retired army officer and a top businessman, in custody in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government, the Anatolia news agency reported.

It was not immediately clear what charges had been brought against the suspects, who included Sinan Aygun, the head of the Ankara Chamber of Trade who is a known critic of the government, and Atilla Ugur, a retired colonel, the report said.

They were among 21 suspects rounded up earlier this week in dawn raids in five cities as part of a controversial probe into a shadowy network called Ergenekon, that allegedly aimed to discredit and oust the Islamist-rooted government.

The detentions came at a time when the ruling Justice and...