The Epoch Times
July 29 2011

Turkey’s Top Military Commanders Resign

By Jack Phillips
Epoch Times Staff

The head of the Turkish military, Isik Kosaner, resigned on Friday
along with the heads of the army, air force, and navy, according to
media reports.

The four resigned after a dispute with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s
government over the arrest of generals who were allegedly planning a
coup, reported Turkish media agencies NTV and CNN-Turk.

Kosaner met with Erdogan in recent days ahead of a meeting set for
early August of the army’s commanders which decides promotions.

To replace Kosaner, the prime minister’s office named General Necdet
Ozel as the new head of the military, the former head of the country’s
paramilitary forces.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said that the U.S. is
confident that the Turkish government will get the issue straightened
out but declined to make further statements.

He added that the State Department has `confidence in the strength of
Turkey’s institutions, both democratic and military,’ adding that it
is `an internal matter’ that the government needs to deal with.

`We view Turkey as a stalwart ally within NATO, and we have strong
security cooperation with them,’ he said.

Kosaner was named as head of the military last year and had two more
years to serve. The three other military commanders were set to retire
in August.

Dozens of generals and officers have been jailed after an
investigation over an alleged plot to take over the government.