Sudan Sentences 8 More Darfur Rebels to Death

Sudan has sentenced eight more Darfur rebels to death, bringing to 38 the total number of alleged rebels condemned to death over a May attack on the country’s capital Khartoum. Among the eight is Abdul Aziz Ashur, a senior rebel commander and close relative of Khalil Ibrahim, the leader of the Justice and Equality movement (JEM) that staged the unprecedented attack. The rebels were sentenced by one of several special courts established by the Sudanese government to try suspected rebels arrested for participating in the armed onslaught, which claimed 200 lives. Last week, the UN expressed concern over the competence of the courts, saying they flouted international standards of justice and did not accord the suspected rebels a fair trial. [PE]