Sudan

Human rights groups protest mass arrests in Khartoum

Article published on the 2008-05-13 Latest update 2008-05-13 14:37 TU

Hassan al-Tourabi.
(Photo: AFP)

Human rights organisations are protesting the mass arrests in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, following last weekend's attack on the capital by Darfur rebels. Sudanese security services have since arrested more than 300 Sudanese and Chadians, the foreign ministry said. It is the first time fighting has reached the capital in decades of conflict. Monday, Islamist opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi and four others from his party were released after hours in detention.

But today Turabi said that 14 of his supporters remained in detention after the roundup.

The mass arrests in Khartoum of perceived supporters of Darfur rebels - no matter what their affiliation - worry human rights groups in the region.

Authorities went from house to house, looking for people known to be connected to the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), according to Selena Brewer from New York- based Human Rights Watch.

"We believe people were picked up just because they seemed to be Darfuri and they didn't have any identification on them. So they were perceived to be linked to the rebels who came to the capital," said Brewer.

The surprise assault has shaken the government and President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said all those connected to the attack by the Jem would be put on trial.