Sudan to investigate alleged coup plotters deaths in custody

KHARTOUM, Sept 29 (AFP) — The Sudanese government said it is investigating the deaths in custody of two Islamists alleged to have been involved in last week’s foiled coup attempt.

Two committees have been set up to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths, said Abdul Moneim Osman Taha, rapporteur of the government’s Human Rights Advisory Council.

The government initially told the families of the unnamed men that they died of natural causes while in detention.

Both men were reportedly members of the Popular Congress party led by jailed Islamist Hassan al-Turabi, accused of masterminding the plot to topple the government.

The interior ministry announced Friday that an attempt by PC members to overthrow the regime had been foiled, hours before they carried it out.

The conspiracy was to be executed in Khartoum following Friday prayers, the ministry said.

Scores of party members were subsequently rounded up, including the two dead men, who the party claims were murdered.

Taha said the committees had already begun interrogating people in connection with the deaths and would also be questioning doctors who issued death certificates.

The official cause of death has not been made public.

Investigations would last at least a week and anyone suspected of foul play would be prosecuted, said Taha.

Meanwhile, the government has also accused the Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel group of involvement in the alleged coup plot.

Claiming to have evidence of their involvement, officials raised doubts about the group’s participation in the next round of African Union-sponsored peace talks between the government and Darfur rebels.

The government possesses “adequate evidence that the JEM has become unqualified for participation in the peace negotiations for its involvement in the recent coup attempt,” Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Naguib al-Kheir Abdul Wahab told reporters.

He added that the government would communicate its concerns to the Nigerian president and current AU chairman, Olusegun Obasanjo, for him to decide on the JEM’s involvement in peace talks due to be held in the Nigerian capital of Abuja.