Turkey sentences 1980 coup leaders to life in jail

ANKARA - A Turkish court sentenced 1980 coup leaders to life in jail on Wednesday, including former president, army chief and former Turkish air forces commander, local Today's Zaman reported.

The Ankara 10th High Criminal Court ruled that the two surviving members of the coup, then army chief Kenan Evren and then commander of the air force Tahsin Sahinkaya get life sentences on coup charges.

The court also ruled that the coup leaders should be stripped of their military ranks.

Some 650,000 people were taken under custody and 230,000 of them stood trial, and nearly 50 were executed during the three years of military junta, according to official figures.