This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7679158.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Disarray at Turkish terror trial | Disarray at Turkish terror trial |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| The trial of 86 people in Turkey on charges including armed insurrection and aiding a terror group has adjourned after chaotic opening scenes. | The trial of 86 people in Turkey on charges including armed insurrection and aiding a terror group has adjourned after chaotic opening scenes. |
| The judge called a halt for several hours, and ordered everyone out, after lawyers complained that conditions in the court were intolerable. | |
| The suspects are accused of belonging to a shadowy ultra-nationalist network. | The suspects are accused of belonging to a shadowy ultra-nationalist network. |
| Prosecutors say the group plotted a series of attacks aimed at provoking the military into carrying out a coup. | Prosecutors say the group plotted a series of attacks aimed at provoking the military into carrying out a coup. |
| The trial may revive tensions between the Islamist-rooted ruling AK Party and the secular military, analysts say. | The trial may revive tensions between the Islamist-rooted ruling AK Party and the secular military, analysts say. |
| 'Patriots' | 'Patriots' |
| Among the 86 suspects charged at the Silivri prison-court were retired army officers, politicians, academics and also journalists, who are alleged to be members of the Ergenekon group. | Among the 86 suspects charged at the Silivri prison-court were retired army officers, politicians, academics and also journalists, who are alleged to be members of the Ergenekon group. |
| The 2,455-page indictment holds the group responsible for at least two violent attacks - a bombing of a secularist newspaper in 2006 and an attack on a court the same year in which a judge was killed. | The 2,455-page indictment holds the group responsible for at least two violent attacks - a bombing of a secularist newspaper in 2006 and an attack on a court the same year in which a judge was killed. |
| The trial is being held at Silivri prison in Istanbul | The trial is being held at Silivri prison in Istanbul |
| The attacks on these key parts of the secular establishment were supposed to provoke the military into launching a coup in defence of secular interests, it is alleged. | The attacks on these key parts of the secular establishment were supposed to provoke the military into launching a coup in defence of secular interests, it is alleged. |
| The suspects deny the charges, saying they are politically motivated. | The suspects deny the charges, saying they are politically motivated. |
| As the trial opened, the presiding judge asked spectators and reporters to leave the tiny courtroom, amid protests by defence lawyers that they could not work in such conditions. | As the trial opened, the presiding judge asked spectators and reporters to leave the tiny courtroom, amid protests by defence lawyers that they could not work in such conditions. |
| Outside the courtroom, scores of demonstrators with Turkish flags held a protest rally. Many of them chanted: "The traitors are in parliament, the patriots are in prison." | Outside the courtroom, scores of demonstrators with Turkish flags held a protest rally. Many of them chanted: "The traitors are in parliament, the patriots are in prison." |
| As proceedings began to descend into disarray, the presiding judge decided to halt them for several hours. | As proceedings began to descend into disarray, the presiding judge decided to halt them for several hours. |
| The trial resumed in the afternoon, with the judges ordering out everyone except the 46 prisoners who are in custody, their lawyers and the press. | |
| A video screen will be set up in an adjoining room for future hearings for the 40 defendants who are on bail and the families of defendants. | |
| One defendant, Capt Muzaffer Tekin, told the judges: "An imaginary group has been invented. I am accused of being a leader of this group but I don't even know this group. I see this as a political plot." | One defendant, Capt Muzaffer Tekin, told the judges: "An imaginary group has been invented. I am accused of being a leader of this group but I don't even know this group. I see this as a political plot." |
| The case was later adjourned until Thursday. | The case was later adjourned until Thursday. |
| The remaining defendants, who are not being held, will give testimony in separate hearings. | The remaining defendants, who are not being held, will give testimony in separate hearings. |
| 'Deep state' | 'Deep state' |
| The trial is unusual in a number of ways: the sheer size of it and the fact that the defendants include retired Turkish military officers, the BBC's Pam O'Toole says. | The trial is unusual in a number of ways: the sheer size of it and the fact that the defendants include retired Turkish military officers, the BBC's Pam O'Toole says. |
| This is something that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, given the power of the military, which has mounted three coups since 1960 and, in 1997, eased the country's first pro-Islamist prime minister from power, our correspondent says. | This is something that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, given the power of the military, which has mounted three coups since 1960 and, in 1997, eased the country's first pro-Islamist prime minister from power, our correspondent says. |
| PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists he does not have an Islamist agenda | PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists he does not have an Islamist agenda |
| Then there is the nature and scope of the charges, some of which would not seem out of place in a Hollywood thriller, she adds. | Then there is the nature and scope of the charges, some of which would not seem out of place in a Hollywood thriller, she adds. |
| But many Turks regard the trial as the latest stage in an ongoing power struggle between Turkey's secular nationalist establishment and the governing AKP. | But many Turks regard the trial as the latest stage in an ongoing power struggle between Turkey's secular nationalist establishment and the governing AKP. |
| The alleged plotters were indicted this summer, shortly before the ruling in a court case that was aimed at closing down the AKP for allegedly becoming a focus for anti-secular activities. | The alleged plotters were indicted this summer, shortly before the ruling in a court case that was aimed at closing down the AKP for allegedly becoming a focus for anti-secular activities. |
| Government critics believed the timing was no coincidence. | Government critics believed the timing was no coincidence. |
| Some believe this trial is the AKP's revenge for the Constitutional Court case, which in the end did not succeed in closing the party; others maintain the Ergenekon network simply does not exist. | Some believe this trial is the AKP's revenge for the Constitutional Court case, which in the end did not succeed in closing the party; others maintain the Ergenekon network simply does not exist. |
| Government supporters portray it as a step towards accountability and democracy by taking much-needed action against so-called "deep state" nationalist groups that have previously been virtually untouchable. | Government supporters portray it as a step towards accountability and democracy by taking much-needed action against so-called "deep state" nationalist groups that have previously been virtually untouchable. |
| The military denies any links to such groups. | The military denies any links to such groups. |
| Turks will watch this case closely, but it could be months, or even years, before there is a result, our correspondent says. | Turks will watch this case closely, but it could be months, or even years, before there is a result, our correspondent says. |