Renewed tension looms in Turkey after military arrests

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Reuters/TheStarOnline
By Alexandra Hudson
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A retired Turkish general charged over a plot to unseat the government said "the struggle has now started", as a string of high-profile arrests risks renewed strain between Ankara and the military.

Two former generals, the most senior figures arrested so far over an alleged 2003 plot, were charged late on Friday and taken to prison on remand, state-run news agency Anatolian reported.

Hours earlier, police had conducted a second wave of military detentions, widening an investigation that has seen some 33 officers arrested, prompted an emergency summit among Turkey's leaders and shaken Turkish markets.

Retired general Cetin Dogan was the former head of Turkey's First Army and as such had occupied a position often seen as a step towards becoming head of the Turkish Armed Forces.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/27/worldupdates/2010-02-27T180000Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-465301-1&sec=Worldupdates