Second ret. gen. detained under Ergenekon in hospital

Initial medical reports suggest Tolon is suffering from high blood pressure and excessive weight loss. Tolon has lost a total of 12 kilograms since he was imprisoned at the beginning of September, Anka news agency reported.

Tolon's lawyer said he would apply to the court for the release of his client for medical reasons.

"Tolon has health problems. We will ask for his release from prison," Ilkay Sezer told the Anatolian Agency.

"We demand that Mr. Tolon be tried without remaining in prison. Tolon has high blood pressure and prostate problems. He earlier went through a heart surgery. Tolon has a problem with his heart. After having been placed in prison, Mr. Tolon lost 12-13 kilograms. Anyone who is in this state of health can not have a normal immune system," Sezer added.

Another retired general, Sener Eruygur, also detained the same prison ward with Tolon, was hospitalized last week after falling down stairs, hitting his head and  suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Eruygur regained consciousness on Wednesday after being in a coma for six days. An initial health assessment has revealed he is partly paralyzed on his right side.

The court approved an application for the release of Eruygur following the accident, but stipulated a ban on international travel.

The two generals were detained in the Ergenekon probe on July 1.

The Ergenekon operation, which started in June 2007 with the discovery of grenades in a house in Istanbul’s Umraniye district, is allegedly a crackdown on an illegal organization believed to be planning provoking events that would pave the way for a military coup to overthrow the ruling AKP government.

Another detainee, Kuddusi Okkir, who was arrested under the Ergenekon investigation and diagnosed with cancer while in custody, died four days after he was released. He was claimed to be the "financial source" of the so-called Ergenekon organization.

The detainees will be charged with a number of crimes including “forming an armed terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, and aiding the organization.”

The 2455-page "Ergenekon" indictment has been filed at an Istanbul court, indicting 86 people, 47 of who are being held in custody. Another indictment would be submitted for those detained in the latest two waves of the operation, including two retired generals, journalists, a business group leader and an actress.