ANKARA: Turkish police today detained three retired generals as part of an investigation into an alleged military plot designed to help bring down the Islamist-rooted government, media reports said.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the four-star officers being taken into custody. It coincided with rising tensions in Ankara between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) “ the moderate offshoot of a banned Islamist movement “ and its secularist opponents. Police detained the men “ former air force chief Ibrahim Firtina, former navy chief Ozden Ornek and Ergin Saygun, the former First Army commander “ at their homes in Ankara and Istanbul, CNN-Turk and NTV news channels said. Several retired and active-duty officers were also taken into custody.