Azernews.Az

ANKARA - The military’s top two posts have been left unfilled at the end of a contentious summit as the general considered the "B-plan" for a controversial top candidate announced he would retire, Hurriyet reported.

Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Atila Işık, thought to be the most likely choice for Land Forces commander, submitted a petition for retirement, NTV reported Thursday.

Commentators said Işık’s petition could be interpreted as a protest against attempts by the government, which had suggested him for the post, to interfere in military decisions. Veteran journalist Fikret Bila, speaking to NTV, said Işık’s move could be considered a "counterattack" in response to the government’s blocking of the appointment of Gen. Hasan Iğsız.

Iğsız had been expected to be named Land Forces commander before he and 18 other officers were summoned earlier this week to testify in a probe of an alleged anti-government online propaganda campaign.

Following the final day of the YAŞ meeting, President Abdullah Gül approved late Wednesday a list of appointments to senior military positions, but left empty the key posts of Land Forces commander and chief of General Staff.

The signing came after four days of talks between the government and the military failed to reach agreement on a number of army promotions, most notably the appointment of Gen. Iğsız. Pending promotions were also delayed for 11 officers caught up in an ongoing investigation of an alleged coup plot.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül refused to sign off on Iğsız’s appointment and thus did not send it to the president for final approval.

The military’s inability to fill the Land Forces spot at YAŞ also kept it from appointing a new chief of General Staff, its top post. Current Land Forces Commander Gen. Işık Koşaner is expected to replace current Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ on Aug. 30. Koşaner met with Gül at the Çankaya Presidential Palace after hearing about Işık’s petition to retire.

Erdoğan’s objection to Iğsız’s promotion has played a key role in the stalemate, daily Milliyet reported Thursday. The prime minister reportedly believes the general is responsible for online news stories and commentaries that were used as evidence of anti-secular activity in the unsuccessful 2008 closure case against his ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

A few months ago, an anonymous military informant sent a letter to prosecutors in the Ergenekon probe, which is an investigation into an alleged gang accused of plotting to overthrow the ruling government, claiming that an anti-fundamentalist action plan had been prepared by Col. Dursun Çiçek, upon instruction by Gen. Iğsız. The letter also said Çiçek had signed and presented a memorandum to Iğsız that explained how the colonel had built websites aiming to undermine the government. These claims, Milliyet said, prompted the prime minister to fight Iğsız’s promotion.