Turkey's leaders met with the country's military chief on Thursday to discuss the government's unprecedented crackdown on high-ranking officers accused of plotting to topple the country's Islamic-rooted government.
The rare three-way meeting by President Abdullah Gul; Gen. Ilker Basbug, the military chief; and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace apparently was called to discuss tensions caused by the crackdown.
As they met, a Turkish court formally charged eight more military officers of plotting to topple the government, increasing the number of officers who have been charged and jailed to 20 — including five admirals and three generals.
Police also escorted several other officers — including former chiefs of the navy and air force and the ex-deputy chief of the military — to the court house for questioning on Thursday.
