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Turkey expels officers linked with Islamic activists
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, August 6, 2001
ANKARA Ñ Turkey's military has expelled at least 15 officers
suspected of links with Islamic fundamentalist or Kurdish groups.
A military statement said the officers were dismissed because of
behavior incompatible with military discipline. The decision was approved by
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who presided over a meeting of the Higher
Military Council. The three day-meeting ended on Friday.
In 1996 and 1997, 232 officers were dismissed for links with either
Islamic fundamentalists or Kurdish elements. The dismissals cannot be
appealed.
The European Union has criticized Turkey's military for its purges as
well as the dominant role in that country's political life.
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