Another anti-AKP journalist detained in Turkey's Ergenekon operation

As a journalist, Ozkan’s stance is fiercely anti-government and pro-nationalist. He founded a website, "Biz Kac Kisiyiz? (How many are we?), as a platform for opposition against the AKP's Islamist policies. He was also the founder and former owner of a Turkish TV channel, Kanalturk. �

Kanalturk, which was the fiercest opponent of the ruling AKP, was sold to a pro-AKP group in 2008 in a controversial transaction.�

Gurbuz Capan, a columnist in the leftist anti-AKP Cumhuriyet daily and former mayor of Esenyurt district in Istanbul; Duygu Dikmenoglu, a former voice talent at Kanalturk; Adnan Bulut, former executive of the channel and journalist; Tanju Guvendiren, a retired colonel; Adil Serdar Sacan, a retired police commissioner were among the detainees, the agencies said.

A number of forensic specialists were also detained in the operation, they added.�

The Ergenekon operation, which started in June 2007 with the discovery of grenades in a house in Istanbul’s Umraniye district, is allegedly a crackdown on an illegal organization believed to be planning provoking events that would pave the way for a military coup to overthrow the ruling AKP government.

The detainees will be charged with a number of crimes including “forming an armed terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, and aiding the organization.”

The 2455-page "Ergenekon" indictment has been filed at an Istanbul court, indicting 86 people, 47 of who are being held in custody. Another indictment would be submitted for those detained in the latest two waves of the operation, including two retired generals, journalists, a business group leader and an actress.