Sudan’s Islamist leader Al-Turabi cleared over coup plot

KHARTOUM, Dec 3, 2004 (Al-Itihadi-DUP daily newspaper) — The Sudanese authorities yesterday dismissed charges against the opposition PNC Popular National Congress leader, Hassan al-Turabi, who has been imprisoned since last March, after accusing him of being behind the recent coup attempt.

The charges were dropped despite his former ally President al-Bashir’s threat to behead him.

However, the authorities said Al-Turabi will continue to be detained until a political decree is issued to release him.

Minister of Justice Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin said the investigating committee headed by the public prosecutor had gathered no evidence against Al-Turabi and many of its party leaders’ involvement in the coup attempt.

Material from the BBC News Monitoring