University president charged in Turkey’s coup probe, hospitalized

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Haberal suffered a heart spasm and is being treated in intensive care, CNNTurk reported.

An Istanbul court said earlier on Friday that eight suspects, including Haberal, the president and owner of Ankara's Baskent University, and three other former university presidents, had been charged as part of the investigation.

More than 200 people have been charged as part of the Ergenekon case, launched in 2007, of forming an illegal organization to provoke a series of events that would pave the way to a military coup.

The prosecutors interrogated Haberal as well as 19 Mayis University rector Professor Ferit Bernay, former rector of Uludag University Professor Mustafa Yurtkuran, former rector of Inonu University Professor Fatih Hilmioglu, Van Yuzuncu Yil University lecturer Professor Ayse Yuksel, retired lecturer Professor Erol Manisali, Hamdi Gokhan Ecevit and Omer Sadun Okyiltirik at Besiktas Courthouse in Istanbul. They were arrested by the court.

Haberal had organized meetings with people opposed to the government, reportedly with the aim of forming a new political movement or party. Haberal also owns the anti-government Kanal B television station, whose headquarters were searched by police Monday.

The case, however, has divided Turkey as many believe it has turned into a witch hunt targeting government critics.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said the way people were detained in the latest wave could be different, when asked about the method employed in the recent round-up of well-known figures in Turkey.

"A different method could be launched for these people who could be reached easily and asked for testimony," Toptan said.