Turkish judge adjourns trial of Erdogan 'assassins'

By Levent Kisi and Durmus Genc

MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - A local court in southern Turkey has adjourned the trial of more than 40 suspects charged with an attempt to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the defeated July 2016 coup.

The case, involving 47 suspects, was postponed on Tuesday to Sept. 6.

Tuesday's hearing was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry's conference hall in Mugla province, southwestern Turkey.

Forty-three suspects had been jailed pending trial; two remaining suspects are at large.

Judge Emirsah Bastog rejected a demand to release of the accused and adjourned the trial.

The first hearing was on Feb 20. The suspects have been accused of being part of the "assassination team" targeting Erdogan.

During the night of the coup attempt, two police officers were martyred at the scene of Erdogan's hotel in the port town of Marmaris.

Later that night Erdogan told the nation on live television he had narrowly escaped with his life when the hotel was bombed 15 minutes after he left the premises.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the foiled coup attempt. The violence left at least 250 people martyred and around 2,200 others wounded.

The government also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.