Military chief visits jailed Turk officers

ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The head of Turkey's military held a meeting with imprisoned officers on trial on charges of planning a coup, officials at Hasdal Military Prison said.

Gen. Necdet Ozel, Turkey's chief of general staff, paid a surprise visit to the prison Monday, Today's Zaman newspaper reported.

The visit follows earlier criticism from relatives of the officers that the Turkish Armed Forces aren't showing solidarity with the accused.

Dozens of active duty military officers have been jailed recently as part of an ongoing investigation into a clandestine criminal network called Ergenekon that is accused of working to overthrow the Turkish government.

There are currently 195 suspects in the case, all accused of a failed plot to destroy the Turkish Parliament and overthrow the government.