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Turkey begins trial of 69 suspects linked to suicide bombings

The trial of 69 suspected members of a Turkish al-Qaida cell accused in a string of November suicide bombings in Istanbul opened yesterday with leading suspects taken to an Istanbul courthouse to testify.

The truck bombings targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and the local headquarters of the London-based HSBC bank. Prosecutors say 61 people, including British Consul-General Roger Short, were killed and more than 600 others injured in the attacks.

In their 128-page indictment, prosecutors are demanding life sentences for five suspects who they said played direct roles in the bombings. Paramilitary police yesterday escorted the five as well as several others to the court, where they were expected to testify.

The other 64 suspects could face prison sentences ranging from 4 to 22 years. Several alleged ringleaders remain at large.

In their indictment, Turkish prosecutors allege that Osama bin Laden suggested targets for an attack and his al-Qaida network provided $150,000 to the Turkish militants who carried out the attacks.

According to the indictment, suspected leader Habib Akdas and cell members Baki Yigit and Adnan Ersoz met on several occasions with Abu Hafs al-Masri, a former bin Laden aide. Al-Masri arranged for Akdas and Yigit to meet with bin Laden in 2001 in Afghanistan.

Yigit said the Turkish cell initially proposed kidnapping members of a pro-Western Turkish business group, but the idea was rejected by bin Laden and al-Masri, the indictment said.

Instead, al-Masri and bin Laden suggested attacks against Incirlik Air Base, used by the US military, as well as against Israeli ships in the southern port of Mersin.

Prosecutors are demanding life sentences for five suspected militants charged with a crime similar to treason.

The other 64 are charged with crimes such as membership in an illegal group or aiding terrorists.

Alleged ringleaders Akdas, Gurcan Bac and Azad Ekinci are at large and are believed to be abroad.

The trial's opening sessions are expected to last to the week's end, and the full trial could last months.

Suspected militants with ties to groups linked to al-Qaida have been tried in several other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, Italy and Belgium.
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