Turkish Officers Stand Trial In Alleged Coup Plot

Around 200 serving and retired Turkish officers have gone on trial charged with plotting to topple the Islamist-rooted government in a military coup.

The accused are answering charges that they planned to overthrow the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government "by force" in a conspiracy known as "Sledgehammer."

They include former chiefs of the air force as well as dozens of generals and admirals.

The trial started in a huge courtroom inside a prison complex in Silivri, a town near Istanbul, with a judge confirming the identities of the suspects.

The 196 suspects face jail sentences of between 15 and 20 years if convicted.

compiled from agency reports