Turkish army calls for calm, restraint over coup plot verdict

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) on Tuesday called for calm and restraint after a Turkish court sentenced a former chief of general staff to life in prison without parole and handed down harsh sentences for hundreds of others in the military. The convicted include many active and retired army officers accused of joining Ergenekon, an alleged underground terrorist organization aiming to topple the government. TSK said in a statement that although it follows closely the investigations and prosecutions against its personnel, it always avoids misunderstandings by acting with patience, calm and restraint. "We feel and share the pain of our colleagues, with whom we served many years, and their precious families," said the army, expressing its belief that the case will conclude in a fair way, referring to the next phase of jurisdiction in a high court. An Istanbul court on Monday ruled on nearly 300 suspects accused of plotting to topple the government led by Islamist- oriented Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. The court sentenced former Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug and retired General Veli Kucuk to life imprisonment, and retired colonel Arif Dogan to 47 years in prison.