06/04/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- A Turkish court on Saturday (April 5th) pressed charges against 24 suspected al-Qaeda members of planning bomb attacks and belonging to a terrorist organisation. The alleged terrorists were indicted for having planned attacks in Istanbul, which would have taken place if Turkey decided to send more troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. Turkey currently has 1,200 troops deployed in Afghanistan and is considering a possible increase of its contingent. (AP, Zaman - 05/04/08; RIA Novosti - 04/04/08)