Suspects in alleged Sudan coup plot to stand trial

KHARTOUM, Dec 12 (AFP) — The trial of more than 70 people suspected of involvement in an alleged attempt to overthrow Sudan’s Islamist government will begin on Thursday, the state prosecutor said Sunday.

Sudanese Islamist and former parliament speaker Hassan Turabi, left, receives Sudan’s justice minister Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, far right, in Khartoum Monday, Oct 13, 2003. (AP)

The justice ministry has launched criminal proceedings against 74 suspects involved in the alleged coup, prosecutor general Salah Abuzaid said, quoted by the official SUNA news agency.

If found guilty, the 74 face the death sentence or life in prison as the maximum terms. Most of those charged over the alleged September plot belong to the opposition Popular Congress party, according to the authorities.

Last month, Abuzaid said charges had been filed against 74 people suspected of involvement in the alleged attempt to topple President Omar al-Beshir’s government.

Another 18 suspects are military personnel who will be court martialled.

Opposition figures have denounced the coup claims as an effort to divert attention from the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Darfur region of western Sudan.