12 Turkish academics detained for signing declaration

Turkey's state-run news agency says police have detained 12 people who are among a group of more than 1,000 who signed a declaration denouncing military operations against Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey.

Anadolu Agency says the 12 detained by police Friday are lecturers at Kocaeli University in northwestern Turkey. Police were still processing the paperwork for nine other academics who also face arrest.

Prosecutors launched an investigation the academics over possible charges of insulting the state and engaging in "terrorist propaganda."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has severely criticized the signatories, including linguist Noam Chomsky, and called on the judiciary to act against the "treachery."

- AP