Turkish journalists stand trial
ANKARA - The Associated Press
Journalist Nedim Şener smiles to journalists as he is being taken away by the police. Hürriyet photo
Media rights groups say several journalists accused of involvement in an alleged plot to topple Turkey's government are going on trial today after spending some nine months in jail.
The case is seen as a test for media freedoms in Turkey.
Investigative journalists Nedim Şener and Ahmet Şık as well as writer Yalçın Küçük - a staunch government critic - are among 13 suspects, who include some other reporters.
International media rights groups will attend today's opening hearing. Prosecutors say the suspects either plotted to bring down Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government in 2003 or aided the alleged plotters.
Some 400 suspects, including other journalists, are already on trial.
