Ergenekon Operations in 11 Provinces

Following a decision by Adana's Heavy Penal Court with special authorities, police searched 37 homes and offices in eleven provinces, among them Konya, Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara.

The operations were a continuation of an operation in Konya on 17 April, after which six people had been arrested.

Among the people whose homes or offices have been searched are a retired colonel in Isparta alleged to have worked for the Turkish secret service, the former president of the educational trade union Türk Eğitim-Sen in Ankara, Şuayip Özcan, two British citizens in Bursa, a doctor in Konya and a journalist in Istanbul.

According to the Milliyet newspaper, retired Colonel K.A.'s computer and documents were confiscated in the operations taking place on Wednesday, 24 June.

Özcan, whose home was searched, said that the International Eurasia Federation of Educators was also searched.

Two months ago, six people were arrested in Konya, accused of taking part in the clandestine ultranationalist Ergenekon organisation. Among them was İsmail Oğuz Şahin, nephew of the owner of a TV station.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yurtkuran, former rector of Uludağ University and a suspect being tried in detention in the Ergenekon trial, was released after undergoing a heart operation on 24 June. He had been arrested on 13 April. (EÖ/AG)