The trial for nearly 500 suspects, including a number of generals and military pilots, accused of leading last year's failed coup attempt in Turkey and carrying out attacks from an air base in the capital Ankara started today.

The main defendant in the case is US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government blames for the coup, and the 76-year-old will be tried in absentia.

Former air force commander Akin Ozturk and other defendants stationed at an Ankara air base, are accused of directing the coup and bombing key government buildings, including the parliament.

Many of the 486 suspects face life terms in prison for crimes that include violating the constitution, attempted the assassination of the president, trying to abolish the republic and seizing military headquarters.

Families of those killed or wounded during the coup attempt protested outside the courthouse, some throwing ropes toward the defendants demanding that the death penalty be reinstated and that they be hanged. Others threw stones or tried to break through police lines to reach the suspects, shouting "murderers."

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