Turkey detains six journalist in coup probe

Turkish police have detained six journalists and searched the homes of five other people, in a three-year-old probe into an alleged plot to overthrow the government.

The Turkish Journalists' Association said such detentions were a threat to press freedom.

Police carried out the dawn raids two weeks after three other journalists were jailed pending trial on charges of links to an ultra-nationalist group known as Ergenekon, alleged to have plotted a coup in 2003.

Hundreds of people, from military officers to academics and politicians have been put on trial over a series of alleged plots which reflect deep suspicion between the secular establishment and prime minister Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party. Critics say the party has Islamist leanings.

The Turkish Journalists' Association said allegations of "membership of the Ergenekon terrorist group… creates a climate of fear".