Turkish Military Council Debates Promotions of Coup Suspects

Thomas Seibert (The National)

August 3, 2010

A routine meeting of Turkey’s top-ranking officers is turning into a power struggle between the military and the government.

The Supreme Military Council (Yas) held the second day of its annual meeting in Ankara yesterday to discuss promotions and dismissals of officers of the armed forces, one of the most powerful institutions in the country.

One expected outcome of the meeting, scheduled to finish tomorrow, is a change of guard at the top of the military. Gen Ilker Basbug, 67, the chief of general staff, has reached retirement age and will be replaced by Gen Isik Kosaner, 64, the current commander of Turkey’s land forces.

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