Turkey: Military chiefs resign en masse

Turkey's four most senior generals resigned in July 2011 over a row with the government over detained military officers. Analysts in the country say the move reflects deeper tensions with PM Erdogan's non-secular government.

There has been a history of tension between the secularist military and the governing AK party, with the two sides engaged in a war of words for since 2009 over allegations that parts of the military had been plotting a coup.

The Turkish government appointed new heads of the country's military on the 3 August 2011.

• Primary Source

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Deutsche Welle, 4.8.11: New top brass in Turkey named after political resignations http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15296465,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 30.7.11: Turkey stunned as top generals step down http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15278283,00.html

ESO: Background information: Civil-Military Relations in Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/special-issue-civil-military-relations-in-turkey/

ESO: Background information: Alleged Turkey coup plotters go on trial http://www.europeansources.info/record/alleged-turkey-coup-plotters-go-on-trial/

France24, 30.7.11: Turkey's military chiefs resign in row wih govt http://www.france24.com/en/20110729-turkey-military-chiefs-resign-over-government-tensions-navy-air-force

EurActiv, 1.8.11: Turkey battles to keep control of its army http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/turkey-battles-keep-control-army-news-506854

BBC News, 1.8.11: Turkey to appoint military chiefs http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14362538

Hürriyet, 2.8.11: Erdogan reins in the military (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/825821-erdogan-reins-military

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