Turkey releases opposition party politician pending trial

A Turkish court ordered the release of a prominent defence analyst and an opposition party co-founder, Metin Gurcan, pending trial, local media reported on Thursday.

Gurcan, one of the co-founders of the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), had been held behind bars since November on charges of "political and military espionage."

Turkish prosecutors accuse him of sharing classified information with foreign diplomats.

Gurcan walked free from an Ankara prison and was welcomed by his lawyers and family after the court ruling, the official Anadolu news agency reported.

Last year, Gurcan criticised the government's agreements with the United Arab Emirates, arguing that Turkey would be forced to make concessions in return for investment pledged by the UAE.