Turkey foils attack on Incirlik base

The authorities in Turkey have arrested seven members of a militant left-wing group suspected of planning an attack on an airbase in south of the country.

Police said the men were from the Revolutionary People's Liberation Front, or Dev Sol, and were planning to cause explosions at the Incirlik base, which is used by British and American planes which patrol over northern Iraq.

Police said those arrested also intended to organise attacks against public buildings in Turkey in protest against controversial prison reform plans. The government wants to house prisoners in smaller cells rather than large dormitory-style prison blocks, but human rights groups say this could isolate prisoners and leave them more open to abuse by guards.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service