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Three retired military commanders went to court on Saturday to testify in a probe into a plot to oust Turkey's government, under a trial which European Union says a test for Turkish democracy.
The military, which has ousted four governments in the past 50 years, is seen as virtually untouchable and the appearance of the commanders would have been unthinkable in a civilian court only a few years ago.
The commanders are expected to be investigated about Sarıkız (Yellow Girl), Ayisigi (Moonlight), Yakamoz (Biolumunicence) and Eldiven (Glow) coup plots which they prepared in 2003-2004.
The testimony will be heard in an investigation into an illegal ultra-nationalist organization known as "Ergenekon," which prosecutors say planned to use violence to overthrow the government.
The three generals were seen in their cars on Saturday as they passed a cordon entering the courthouse in central Istanbul.
Dozens of documents, phone transcripts and photographs clearly indicate that Arslan and some of the Ergenekon suspects were frequently in contact with each other. When an arms cache inside a shanty house in Istanbul's Umraniye district was discovered in the summer of 2007 -- the discovery that would be the start of the Ergenekon probe -- the Council of State shooting was reinvestigated by prosecutors on the Ergenekon case.
Some 200 people, including politicians, lawyers and military officers, are on trial in connection with the case.
The Ergenekon prosecutors has sent notifications to the three commanders earlier in the week.
The questioning is expected to focus on the testimony from a former military chief of staff, which he told newspapers included statements that he knew of the existence of plans to topple the government.
Media outlets have also leaked alleged excerpts of a diary of former Naval Commander Ozden Ornek from 2004, which outline the coup plot.
Ornek served from 2003 to 2005. Also under questioning is former Land Forces Commander Yalman Aytac, who served from 2002 to 2004 and former Air Forces Commander Ibrahim Firtina who served from 2003 to 2005.
The testimony on Saturday is being given in-camera, though Turkish media have been following the saga of the coup investigation closely, and previous leaks have boosted tensions surrounding the case.
The European Union has called the trial a test for Turkish democracy, but critics accuse the government of using the investigation to carry out a witch hunt, and to settle scores with opponents unconnected to the ultra-nationalists.
PHOTO CAPTION
Turkish commanders, from left to right, Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Land Forces commander Aytac Yalman, Navy Commander Ozden Ornek, Air Forces Commander Ibrahim Firtina and Paramilitary Forces Commander Sener Eruygur seen during a meeting of the National Security Council in Ankara.
Agencies
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