Sudanese govt to release all political detainees

KHARTOUM, May 1, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Sudanese minister of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Osman Ismail has could not tell exact date for release of Hassan Al-Turabi and the rest of the detained members of the opposition Popular National Congress party.

However, he went on to say that there was a government’s policy on releasing all political prisoners in promoting the atmosphere of coexistence and the ratifying the transitional constitution.

Talks to draft the new constitution begin yesterday and last for six weeks.

This, he said would, inevitably lead to the lifting of the state of emergency and subsequently the release of all political detainees and lifting of press censorship, the Sudanese al-Khartoum reported today.

Last week, Sudanese opposition Islamist Hassan al-Turabi was moved to house arrest from prison.

Turabi’s opposition Popular Congress Party was suspended after the alleged coup at the end of March last year. Turabi has remained in detention under emergency laws ever since.