Turkey releases 14 detained in latest wave of Ergenekon operation

ISTANBUL - Turkish authorities released on Friday 14 people detained in the 13th wave of the controversial Ergenekon operation, broadcaster CNNTurk reported. (UPDATED)

The 14 were among 20 people detained Thursday for questioning in relation to an investigation into a weapons cache found in Istanbul’s Poyrazkoy neighborhood in April.

Ten serving military officers were among the detained in five provinces, including the capital Ankara and the Aegean city of Izmir, according to reports on Thursday.

Turkish military spokesman, Metin Gurak, however, told a weekly press briefing on Friday that an army major and a petty officer were detained in the operations.

The two are still being held in custody, CNNTurk said.

Launched in 2007, the Ergenekon case has detained more than 200 on suspicion of forming an illegal organization to provoke a series of events that would pave the way to a military coup. About 140 people are already on trial in the case, including retired generals, lawyers and journalists.

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