VOA News 26 February 2010
The Turkish government has arrested another 18 high-ranking military officers in an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
Turkish media report Friday that all but one of the newly arrested suspects are currently serving in the military.
Since the government crackdown began Monday, 31 present and former military leaders have been charged in the alleged coup plot.
Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned in a televised address that "no one is above the law."
Turkish officials claim the suspects began planning the coup in 2003 in an effort to oust the newly elected Islamist-rooted government.
The military has long seen itself as a defender of Turkey's secular state. It ousted four governments from 1960 through 1997.
Mr. Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul met for about three hours with the military commander, General Ilker Basbug, on Thursday.
The prime minister said Thursday's meeting went well and he dismissed opposition calls for early elections.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.