06/08/2012 09:50
Turkey retires 'coup’ generals
Turkey's top military council on Saturday ordered the retirement of dozens of generals and admirals who are currently being held on charges of coup plotting, the army announced on its website, according to AFP.
Fifty-five generals and admirals are required to retire due to a lack of vacancies in their positions and one admiral due to age limit as of September 1, the army said in an online statement.
Among them were 37 generals and admirals in detention in connection with several probes into alleged plots to topple the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, media reported.
The latest announcement comes as the Supreme Military Council (YAS) began its annual meeting on Wednesday to discuss promotions and dismissals within the army. The decisions were made public Saturday after being approved by the president.
The Turkish army, which sees itself as the guarantor of Turkey's secular principles, overthrew three earlier administrations in 1960, 1971 and 1980.
And in 1997, it pressured an Islamic-leaning prime minister, Necmettin Erbakan, to step down. Erbakan was the political mentor of Erdogan.