Turkish generals face court over failed coup attempt

By Aylin Sirikli, Baris Kilic, Zafer Fatih Beyaz, Yunus Ege, and Hanife Sevinc

ANKARA (AA) - Retired Air Forces Commander Akin Ozturk together with 26 generals and admirals have been sent to an Ankara court Monday for their alleged involvement in Friday's military coup attempt.

Over 100 high-rank officers of the Turkish army were detained earlier as part of the ongoing investigation into the attempted coup, which sought to overthrow Turkey’s democratically elected government.

All of them have been charged with treason and are testifying to the prosecutors and judges.

Security forces are trying to find others for whom arrest warrants were issued following the coup attempt.

In Istanbul, 12 soldiers were arrested by a court on suspicion of being members of an armed terrorist organization and attempting to overthrow the Turkish government.

On late Friday, the soldiers raided Turkish Public broadcaster TRT's office in Istanbul's Harbiye district while soldiers on the Bosphorus Bridge opened fire on civilians who were rallying against the coup attempt.

People took to the streets to protest against the coup and at least 208 people - security officers and civilians - were martyred in the ensuing violence. Hundreds of others were wounded.

Turkey accuses U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and his so-called parallel state of being behind the coup and has called for his extradition to Turkey to face trial.

The “parallel state” represents a clandestine group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials, allegedly embedded in the country’s institutions, including the judiciary, the police, and the army.