Turkish Cumhuriyet journalists to go on trial

Two prominent Turkish journalists are due to go on trial charged with revealing state secrets, the BBC reports.

Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, from the newspaper Cumhuriyet, were arrested in November over a report alleging that the Turkish government had tried to ship arms to Islamists in Syria.

They deny the charges but face possible life sentences if found guilty.

Supporters of the two men say the case is an important test of press freedom in Turkey.

The Turkish government has come under increasing international criticism over its treatment of journalists.