Chaos in trial of 86 accused of coup plot

The trial of 86 people accused of conspiring to overthrow Turkey's Islamic-oriented government began in chaos yesterday when defendants and lawyers complained they couldn't hear in the overcrowded courtroom.

A panel of judges led by Koksal Sengun adjourned proceedings until afternoon and then decided to resume the trial in the same courtroom. The judges ordered that only the 46 suspects being held in jail, as well as three lawyers for each of them, remain.

Forty-six of the suspects have been held in custody, and the rest were released pending the outcome of the trial.