Army foils coup in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Army announced Thursday it has foiled a military coup planned by some midrank army officers. Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Masud Razzak told the Press Trust of India two former officers have been arrested and 14 to 16 others are under investigation. He said the two former officers "bluntly admitted their role in the plot," designed to topple the government using the army. "Stringent legal measures will be taken against the persons involved in the conspiracy after proper investigation," Razzak said. He told a press briefing in Dhaka the plot was instigated by some non-resident Bangladeshis along with retired and current army officers, The (Dhaka) Star reported.