Turkey: Former army general jailed for 'plot' to overthrow government

General Basburg has been sentenced to life
in jail.

Turkey's former armed forces chief has been jailed for life for plotting to overthrow the government; after five years of trials involving, officers, lawyers, writers and journalists. Iiker Basburg was among dozens of people convicted of involvement in a plot which was allegedly aimed at toppling the Turkish government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development party. Critics of the Prime Minister have accused him of staging 'show' trials to eliminate his enemies (for example, Mr Basburg). But supporters of Mr Erdogan argue the trials have pushed the military out of politics. General Basburg, who led the military between 2008 and 2010, had rejected all charges against him. Outside the court at the high security Silivri prison complex, police fired tear gas at around 1,000 protesters who were marching outside; angry at the sentencing. The sentencing is the culmination of a number of trials which began in 2008. Since Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002, hundreds of military officials - serving and retired - have been arrested.