Detailed charges against the suspects will become known once prosecutors draw up their indictment.

Police last week rounded up about 70 serving and retired soldiers as part of a probe into an alleged plot to foment unrest and unseat the government.

Among those being held in custody is an alleged leader of the plot, retired four-star Gen. Çetin Doğan, former commander of the Istanbul-based First Army. The coup plan was allegedly drawn up and discussed in Istanbul in 2003, shortly after the AK PARTY came to power.

The plot – codenamed “Balyoz" (Sledgehammer) – reportedly involved plans to bomb mosques and provoke tensions with Greece, which would spark political chaos and justify a military takeover against the governmenT.