Turabi in regret over Sudan’s coup
March 25, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese opposition leader, Hassan Al-Turabi, has spoken remorsefully about his role in establishing the current regime of President Omer Al-Bashir more than twenty two years ago, accusing his former allies of falling under the sway of power.
Ten years down the road, however, he was ousted following a power struggle with Al-Bashir and fellow Islamists. He later split from the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to form the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and become one of the government’s fiercest critics.
Addressing an event organised in the capital Khartoum on Sunday to celebrate the release of six PCP members who were incarcerated for ten years on charges of plotting a coup, Al-Turabi accused Al-Bashir’s government of tarnishing the image of Islam through its practices.
He went on to express an unusual regret over his role in the 1989 coup, saying that the current rulers had been seduced by power.
“We have seen firsthand the wrongdoings and turpitudes the love of power can cause. We never thought power could corrupt people that much, now we know better than yesterday,” Al-Turabi said in hindsight.
The veteran Islamist encouraged his supporters to prepare for the period which would the follow the “imminent” downfall of the regime.
He pointed out that the current rulers are scared of the upcoming uprising because they fear being brought to justice as well as losing their ill-gotten money and properties.
(ST)