Turkey accuses five of spying for Syria

Ankara: Turkey’s state-run news agency says five people, including two Syrians, are on trial on charges of military espionage and of attempting to kidnap a Syrian army defector.

The Anadolu Agency said on Friday Turkish prosecutors are demanding a maximum 54 years in prison for each of the defendants accused of passing information to Syria on officers who have fled to Turkey, and of trying to abduct a Syrian army lieutenant at knifepoint. The suspects have not been identified.

Five other Turks, including a former intelligence official, are awaiting trial in a separate case for allegedly abducting former Syrian Lt Col Hussain Harmoush and handing him over to Syrian authorities.

Turkey is serving as a base for officers and soldiers who have joined the Syrian opposition.