Turkish court overturns 275 verdicts in 'coup plot' trial

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's supreme court of appeals on Thursday overturned the convictions of 275 people, including a former military chief, who allegedly plotted to overthrow the country's Islamist-leaning government.

The appeals court said the lower court had, among other flaws, failed to prove Ergenekon's existence and ruled that the defendants were denied a fair trial.

Some saw it as an opportunity to unravel a shadowy ultranationalist and pro-secular network that allegedly acted behind the scenes with impunity, while others believed the trial was a government attempt to muzzle Erdogan's secular-minded foes and undermine Turkey's secular legacy.