Baykal: Distinguished people have been detained without sound evidence in Ergenekon probe

Main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday continued to criticize the government on recent detention and arrests under the Ergenekon probe. Speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said that the detentions of distinguished individuals and former top officials under the probe were causing widespread public concern. Saying that there were no claims of wrongdoing while those individuals were in office, Baykal added, "If you detain retired generals and former top officials, you need to have a very strong case against them. You have to know why they were detained if you detain these people. You have to have legal grounds. So if there was sound evidence to take these people in custody, why did you release them without even taking them before a court? I'm happy that they were released, but we need to look into this. What happened in three days to make you release them?"