KurdistanObserver.com

"Democracy", The Turkish Way

Turkish prosecutor sacked after accusations against general

ANKARA, April 20, 2006 (AFP) -A Turkish prosecutor who called for a top general to be investigated for alleged illegal actions in the fight against Kurdish rebels was sacked Thursday for misconduct, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya caused a storm last month when he demanded an investigation against Army Commander Yasar Buyukanit for suspected links with rogue groups in the military seeking to stir tensions in the mainly Kurdish southeast and derail Turkey's bid to join the European Union.

The armed forces condemned the allegations against Buyukanit as "ill-intentioned" and urged the government to punish those behind "this onslaught... aimed at wearing down the Turkish armed forces."

The justice ministry subsequently launched an investigation and inspectors concluded that the prosecutor went beyond the limits of his jurisdiction.

A board of senior jurists Thursday overwhelmingly voted to expel Sarikaya from the profession and to suspend him until his expulsion becomes definite, Anatolia said. Sarikaya has the right to appeal the decision.