ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 1 (UPI) -- The number of current or former Turkish military officers apprehended in an alleged coup conspiracy rose to 35 with two more weekend arrests, officials said.
The regional police commander and military lieutenant-colonel jailed Sunday night were among 18 men in 13 provinces who were detained Friday in the second sweep of arrests, the Zaman daily reported Monday.
A week ago, 49 officers were detained for questioning about the operation known as Sledgehammer that allegedly began in 2003 to destabilize the Islamist-leaning government with mosque bombings and the downing of a Turkish fighter jet, the report said. Investigators allege the plane incident would have been blamed on Greece to heighten the military's role in international relations, reports said.
The balance of the arrested officers have been released pending trial in Istanbul, Zaman said.
The secular military has overthrown four governments in the past 50 years.
