The Turkish army said in a statement, under the law any search conducted on a military facility should be made by military officials in the presence of a prosecutor, and Tuesday's search and detention of retired generals was made in line with this legal procedure. The army rejected claims that it "approved" the detainment of retired generals even though soldiers conducted the search of a retired general's home.

An hour before the army's statement Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug rejected the claims that the detainment of retired army commanders was discussed in his meeting with the prime minister.

Basbug said Wednesday that the "topic of the Ergenekon investigation did not come up during my meeting with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on June 24".

"I want to declare it frankly: The comments, implications and assessments made on my meeting with Erdogan are not substantive. The topic of the Ergenekon investigation did not come up at all during my meeting with Erdogan."

Turkish Prime Ministry also denied on Wednesday that the Ergenekon operation was discussed during the meeting between Erdogan and Basbug.

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