AKP slams Baykal's claims on Ergenekon probe

Speaking to reporters yesterday, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat criticized comments by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal about the ongoing Ergenekon probe. "Baykal claims that the recent Ergenekon detainees were taken into custody due to their opposition to the government. This is absolutely false and doesn't reflect reality," said Firat. "They were detained by security forces due to serious accusations such as establishing an illegal network to overthrow the government and plotting provocations to destabilize Turkey to reach their illegal goals. The probe was started by the independent judiciary and is ongoing. Politics plays no role in the probe."