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Turkey: 'Coup' trial faces delay in Istanbul
(AKI) - The trial of 86 people accused of a plot to overthrow the Turkish government was delayed in Istanbul on Monday because of overcrowding in the court room.A Turkish court was to begin hearing the case against those accused of belonging to a group that allegedly plotted to overthrow the country's Islamist-rooted government. The Turkish news site, Hurriyet, said proceedings were delayed and the judge was to make an interim decision on whether to begin the trial. Among the 86 suspects - 46 of who are remanded in custody - are retired army officers, politicians, journalists, and academics who are alleged to be members of the Ergenekon group that fiercely opposes the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In the controversial case, the accused will answer about 30 separate charges ranging from membership in a terrorist organisation and instigating an armed uprising against the government to arson and illegal possession of weapons. Prosecutors will argue the group plotted a series of attacks aimed at provoking the military into carrying out a coup. A 2,455-page indictment claims the group was responsible for at least two violent attacks - a bombing of a secularist newspaper in 2006 and an attack on a court in which a judge was killed. Posted by: Fred 2008-10-21 |
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