Former commanders join ‘coup plans’ row
Ãetin DoÄan, Turkey's former 1st Army commander, has criticized the recent statements of former Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytaç Yalman over the "Balyoz" (Sledgehammer) coup plot case.
DoÄan said retired Chief of General Staff Gen. Ä°lker BaÅbuÄ is an "honored soldier" and denied claims that Ãzkök called him on the phone and told him to âwatch his stepsâ after he allegedly heard of the coup plans.
âAlthough I did not agree with Ãzkök on every issue, he is an honest and honored man. He is not like Aytaç, who appears like an Atatürkçü [Kemalist] and yet does such things,â DoÄan said.
Ãzkök declined to make any statement in response, saying he "did not want to get involved in a row."
Yalman had told daily Hürriyet on Dec. 14 that BaÅbuÄ and DoÄan â both of whom were working under his rank at the time â had not informed him of a seminar held by the 1st Army Commandership that allegedly featured the coup plot included in the original "Balyoz" indictment.
âThat is to say, the seminar was held in violation of my orders. I learned about it later,â Yalman said.
DoÄan, however, later told Hürriyet they had informed both the General Staff and Land Forces about the seminar.
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