An alleged criminal network that came to be known as "Ergenekon" was revealed after police seized hand grenades, TNT explosives and fuses in a shanty house in Istanbul on June 12th, 2007. Several Turkish figures were detained and sent to prison within the scope of the investigation. The prosecutors carrying out the investigation have not yet completed the indictment of the lawsuit which is believed to be concluded soon.

Prosecutors asked a criminal court on duty in Istanbul to arrest Ufuk Buyukcelebi, the editor-in-chief of "Halka ve Olaylara Tercuman" newspaper; Siyami Yalcin; Murat Avar and Hamza Demir on charges of "being a member of the Ergenekon terrorist organization."

The criminal court on duty released them.

On Tuesday, police waged operations in several provinces including Ankara and Istanbul and detained 21 people.

Several Turkish figures including retired Gen. Hursit Tolon; Ankara representative of Cumhuriyet newspaper Mustafa Balbay; chairperson of Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Sinan Aygun; and Kemalist Thought Association (ADD) head retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, were taken into custody.

AA