Hotel siege gunmen say it was not planned

Pro-Chechen gunmen did not plan to seize hostages at a luxury hotel, a court has heard.

One of the group's leaders claimed they only pulled out their guns after they were attacked by men they suspected were Russian agents.

The 13 gunmen held 120 people hostage for 12 hours at Istanbul's Swissotel hotel in April.

Prosecutors have demanded 26 years in prison for the two leaders and 19 years in prison for the 11 others.

Muhammet Emin Tokcan, one of the leaders of the group, said he became suspicious that he was being followed as he travelled in a car to the hotel.

He told the Istanbul court the people following him "attempted to stop us as we reached the hotel and opened fire on us."

Tokcan said his group only then pulled out their guns and entered the hotel.

"We had to enter the hotel to protect ourselves but we didn't force those people staying at the hotel to do anything. They were free to do anything they wanted like going to their rooms or leaving the hotel," said Emin Tas, another of the group's leaders.

When asked by a judge why the group was carrying pistols and two assault rifles, Tokcan said they were planning to go to Chechnya to fight.

At the time of the hostage taking, the gunmen said that they acted to protest Russia's military campaign in Chechnya.

All of the hostages were released unharmed and many said they were well treated during the siege.

The trial continues.