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Turkish prosecutors launch third search at military headquarters

29 December 2009 [10:00] - TODAY.AZ
Prosecutors investigating a plot to assassinate Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç have launched a third search at the headquarters of the Special Forces Command in Ankara.
At the same time, opposition leader Deniz Baykal has said the lack of mutual trust between the police and the military may trigger instability in the country.

A convoy of six vehicles carrying a judge and prosecutors entered the headquarters of Regional Mobilization Department of Special Forces Command on Monday for the third time.

The first search ended after 10 hours Friday while the prosecutors’ second search resumed the day after. Eight officers – including two who were caught last week near Arınç’s house – were detained in the course of the Saturday search.

Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ and Land Forces Commander General Işık Koşaner later paid a surprise visit to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Their meeting lasted three-and-a-half hours.

“The point is not the allegations of a plot against Arınç, but that the government thinks the armed forces might be involved in such a plot. It is serious to label the army,” Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, said in an interview with Star TV.

The military should not be linked with such conspiracy theories, Baykal said. “Think of it: If the Turkish Armed Forces is plotting against a statesman, we cannot talk any longer. That would be a point where the words have become devoid of meaning.”

A lack of trust will worsen the situation, Baykal said. “They alerted the Special Forces by saying, ‘The spy you were looking for met Arınç and leaked information,’ and later called the police and said, ‘Military officers are plotting to assassinate Arınç.’ If you create an atmosphere of distrust, there will be others trying to sowing discord,” he said.

Erdoğan, however, said there was no tension between the police and the military. “There is no conflict between the institutions. The court will tell who is right and who is wrong,” Erdoğan told reporters regarding the allegations.

/Huriyyet Daily News/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/58711.html

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