Sudanese police seize arms cache linked to alleged coup bid

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Sep 10, 2004 (AP) — Sudanese police seized a large quantity of weapons and explosives Friday and detained one person during raids linked to an alleged coup attempt, a security authority statement said.

The seizures were made after officials announced Wednesday the arrest of more than 30 members of the opposition Popular Congress party in connection with the alleged coup plot.

The Popular Congress, headed by Hassan Turabi, the former mentor of Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir, has denied any wrongdoing. The party said this was part of a government bid to discredit it. Turabi has been in detention since a police operation earlier this year to round up party members following another alleged coup.

Authorities said police found 100 Kalashnikov rifles, 10 rocket propelled grenade launchers and about 100 RPG rounds and “quantities of explosives” in a house north of the capital, Khartoum. They arresed the owner of the property, who is allegedly a member of the Popular Congress party.