38 more detained under Ergenekon probe

The Ergenekon probe detained 39 more people yesterday, including 20 police and military officers. The 20 are alleged to be part of assassination teams directed by Ibrahim Sahin, an ex-police officer currently under arrest as part of the case. Police also raided the headquarters of the Metal Workers' Union and Eurasia TV (ART) in Ankara. Union head Mustafa Ozbek, VERSO Survey owner Erhan Goksel, and senior journalist Unal Inanc were also rounded up. Among the detainees are 17 police officers from a special operations unit, two non-commissioned officers, three lieutenants, seven journalists, and five union activists. Istanbul Acting Prosecutor Turan Colakkadi said there might be more detentions based on documents and evidence discovered in previous raids. "Searches are executed under court order. Prosecutors are immediately informed of the suspects, who have the right to object to the court," he added. Searches were undertaken in 30 locations in various cities, he said. The latest detentions covered 13 cities. Meanwhile, Professor Yalcin Kucuk and Independent Republic Party (BCP) deputy leader Engin Aydin, arrested in an earlier wave of Ergenekon detentions, were released yesterday. Also retired Brig. Gen. Levent Ersoz, who has evaded arrest under the probe since summer, was detained late last week. Union leaders, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and detainees' relatives condemned the detentions as part of a suppression campaign. The Ergenekon case concerns an alleged ultranationalist gang that conspired against the government in order to provoke a coup. Prosecutors describe the alleged gang as a terrorist group.