By Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- An Athens court rejected on Wednesday the new request submitted by Ankara for the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece last July a day after the failed coup attempt in Turkey.
Wednesday's ruling applied to three of the eight soldiers who have requested asylum in Greece, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
Greek judges have already rejected the extradition of other three soldiers in April, while a decision on the last two is still pending.
Greece's Supreme Court had turned down in January the first extradition request by Turkish authorities but a new one was submitted with supplementary charges of damage of public property.
Ankara accuses the eight soldiers of participating in the failed coup attempt.
The defendants have insisted on their innocence and expressed fear for their safety should they be returned to Turkey.
Greek judges have accepted so far their claims that they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey and they may face mistreatment.
