Istanbul, July 20 (IANS) A Turkish court has charged 196 people, mostly retired senior army officers, of a coup plot to topple the ruling government.

The 968-page indictment approved by an Istanbul court accused the suspects of being involved in an alleged conspiracy in 2003 to create chaos and pave the way for a military takeover, Xinhua reported citing Anatolia news agency.

The alleged plot was drawn shortly after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in November 2002.

Retired navy chief Admiral Ozden Ornek, former air force commander General Halil Ibrahim Firtina, and former deputy chief of the general staff, retired General Ergin Saygun were among the accused.

The indictment accuses all the defendants of "attempting to overthrow the government or prevent it from carrying out its duties through the use of force and violence".

It was, however, not clear when the trial would begin. The suspects face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of attempting to bring down the government.