Turkey court adjourns trial into worst mining disaster

Dozens of suspects go on trial Monday over modern Turkey`s worst mining disaster that left 301 miners dead in the western town of Soma and tarnished the image of the government under Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ankara: Dozens of suspects went on trial Monday over modern Turkey`s worst mining disaster that left 301 miners dead last year but the process was rapidly adjourned for two days to allow the chief accused to appear before the court.

The trial, which is expected to be lengthy, opened at a court specially created for the process around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Soma in western Turkey in the town of Akhisar, an AFP correspondent reported.

Forty-five people are standing trial, including eight former top managers from the Soma Komur group that ran the mine who are charged with murder. 

But for security reasons, the judge had ruled that the eight former managers who are in custody in Izmir would give their statements via video-link and a giant screen was set up in court for this purpose.

However lawyers for the victims immediately argued that the eight should be brought to the court in Akhisar look those who lost their loved ones in the eyes.

After angry protests from the victims` families, the judge agreed to their demand and adjourned the trial until Wednesday to allow the eight main accused to appear personally in court.