Trial of alleged coup plotters begin, with defendants denying charges

KHARTOUM, Sep 30, 2004 (AP) — Thirty-two suspects held in a March plot to overthrow the government denied the accusations in court Thursday as their lawyers said the defendants were deprived of legal rights.

The Popular Congress party of jailed opposition leader Hassan Turabi was accused of planning a coup in March and another failed attempt in September.

The accused in the March plot face eight charges related to waging war against the state, planning a coup, sabotage, undermining the constitutional system, and disturbing the peace and order.

The defendants, mostly from western Sudan, were also accused of planning to assassinate leaders, occupy vital installations in Khartoum and disrupt electricity supply, according to the official Sudan Media Center.

The accused, led by Sulieman Sandal Hagar, a retired police captain, denied the charges during the trial at the Khartoum North Criminal Court which opened Thursday.

“The plan of the 32 accused was to overthrow the current authority and to run the country for a two-year interim period,” Brig. Abdul-Rahim Ahmed Abdul-Rahim, the police officer in charge of the investigation, was quoted by the center as saying Thursday.

The defense team of over 50 lawyers has complained that some 20 lawyers were denied entry into the courtroom on the grounds that the courtroom was too small, said a statement from the defense.

It said the court continued its deliberation in the absence of a large number of lawyers, depriving the accused of their legal rights.

One lawyer, Abdul-Salam Gizouli, was expelled from the courtroom for twice interrupting the judge, demanding that the right of some defendants to have legal advice should be respected.

Turabi has been in jail since April. In September, the government said it foiled another coup attempt it blamed on Turabi’s party. An unspecified number of suspects were arrested.