General Who Led Turkish Coup Charged With Treason As Eight Of His Fellow Plotters Flee

Istanbul's most senior soldier has been charged with treason as eight leading members of the plot to overthrow the government have fled to Greece.

General Erdal Ozturk who commanded the Third Army Corps has been detained he is facing treason charges for his role in the aborted coup.

His men attempted to seize strategic locations across Istanbul when they were confronted by thousands of unarmed civilians who came out in support of President Recep Erdogan.

Erdogan has suggested the ringleaders could face the death penalty even though Turkey abolished capital punishment as part of its attempts to join the European Union.