Two Sudanese soldiers hanged over Darfur war crimes

April 22, 2007 (AL-FASHER, North Darfur) — Sudanese authorities hanged here on Sunday two of its army soldiers over involvement in Darfur war crimes, the official SUNA reported on Saturday evening.

The Agency said that they were convicted by the Special Criminal Court for Darfur crimes for breaching the Sudanese criminal law (article 130), without elaborating

The court decision was approved by the Supreme Court, and handed their bodies to their relatives.

Sudan announced last February the formation of the special court one day before the announcement by the ICC of first suspects accused of committing war crimes in Darfur region on Feb. 27, the Justice Ministry said would form a special court to try some Sudanese accused of atrocities there.

The ministry said the criminal cases filled to the court include one charge related to kidnapping and taking hostage a number of citizens while the other is related to burning some villages and killing a group of citizens.

A Sudanese official said at that time that the cases have been transferred to the judiciary based on recommendations by the investigating committee set up by the minister of justice headed by a high court judge.

(ST)