ANKARA — Turkey has reported a military plot to overthrow the pro-Islamic government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan.

A police investigation has uncovered evidence that leading Turkish generals examined the feasibility of toppling the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, as early as 2003, months after its election, Middle East Newsline reported. The generals were said to have sought approval from then-President Ahmet Sezer, an avowed secularist, to launch the coup.

The police seized minutes of meetings of leading commanders who discussed the need to drive AKP from power. The minutes reported meetings on July 15-16, 2003, which included warnings that the pro-Islamist party must be toppled within 18 months or the military would undergo severe restrictions by the European Union. Ankara has sought to join the EU.

The generals were said to have agreed to criticize the government in Turkey's media, mobilize secular opponents for mass demonstrations and use military intelligence to spy on AKP. Police also determined that the military brass agreed to undermine Erdogan and his top aides in meetings with politicians.

The Turkish commanders were also said to have set guidelines for any coup. Police determined that the generals decided to approve a coup should the government transfer responsibility for the General Staff from the prime minister to the defense minister, allow Islamic seminary graduates to attend military colleges or revise Turkey's tough counter-insurgency laws.

Police acquired the minutes as well as other documents in their investigation of what officials termed was a secular plot to overthrow the Erdogan government. The plot was allegedly led by former Turkish commanders and secular politicians.

The General Staff has denied any link to the secular plot against Erdogan. In the meeting of the Supreme Military Council in August 2008, outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, for the first time since 1996, did not demand the dismissal of officers with suspected links to radical Islamic groups.

Officials said the alleged coup documents were seized from the home of retired Capt. Muzaffer Yildirim. The minutes spoke of meetings that included then-Air Force Command chief Gen. Ibrahim Firtina, navy chief Adm. Ozden Ornek, First Army commander Gen. Hursit Tolon, Second Army commander Gen. Fevzi Türkeri, Third Army commander Gen. Tamer Akbas and Aegean Army commander Gen. Cetin Dogan.

Ornek was said to have kept a diary that reported coup plans in 2003 and 2004. The naval commander denied that he authored the diary.

---