"Ruling party in court as Turks detail coup plot" by Hidir Goktas and Selcuk Gokoluk, Reuters | July 4, 2008
ANKARA, Turkey - Documents seized by Turkish police indicate that a shadowy, ultra-nationalist illegal organization planned to trigger a coup to unseat the government, newspapers reported yesterday.
The reports came as the governing AK Party defended itself in the country's top court against charges of trying to introduce Islamic rule. If the court decides against the party, it could be closed down, a move that might lead to an early parliamentary election.
The political uncertainty has spread to financial markets. It also could complicate the nation's application to become part of the European Union. Turkey, a predominantly Muslim but officially secular country, has had four coups in the 50 years.
Turkish media said a secret plan, including assassinations, clashes with security forces, and illegal protests on July 7 across 40 provinces, had been seized during a swoop on suspected members of the organization, which has been called Ergenekon. The series of events would be intended to force the army to stage a coup.
Twenty-one people, including two retired senior generals, journalists, and politicians, were detained on Tuesday for links to the group. All were critics of the government. Two of the detainees were brought before an Istanbul court yesterday. Police declined to comment on the case.
"As a result of the recent detentions, tension between Turkey's secular establishment and the AKP is reaching the boiling point," said Wolfango Piccoli, a consultant on political risk."
