Sudan starts trial of 78 suspected coup plotters
KHARTOUM, Dec 16 (Reuters) – Trial began in Sudan on Thursday for 78 men, including members of the leading Islamist opposition Popular Congress party and former military officers, accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
The men were arrested for involvement in what the government said was an attempted coup in September. They were charged with provoking war against the state, terrorism, undermining the constitutional system and possessing weapons.
The defendants face the death penalty if convicted.
Judge Al-Amin al-Tayeb read the charges to 72 men, including five retired members of the armed forces, who sat behind bars in the court room. Six of the men are being tried in absentia.
The Popular Congress party, led Hassan al-Turabi, has denied both the coup attempt and that its members were involved in any crime.
Turabi, a former ally of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, was imprisoned and his party suspended in April after a similar accusation that they were plotting to overthrow the government. Turabi was not among those being tried on Thursday.
“Turabi has not been charged, despite (the fact) that he is still detained,” London-based party member Muhammad el-Amin told Reuters, adding that the charges were “baseless and unfounded”.
Haj Adam, a member of the party leadership and a former agriculture minister, is among those being tried in absentia. Party members said he was now in the Eritrean capital Asmara.
Those in court, some of whom come from the Darfur conflict zone, were dressed in civilian clothes. Some shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) when they were led out of the court building where there was a heavy security presence.
The men were taken to Kobar prison after the session, after previously being held in facilities run by the security forces.
The next court session was scheduled for Dec. 26.
Separately, 21 serving members of the armed forces charged in connection with the same case have already been transferred to a military court for trial, court sources said.