Sudan sentences 27 to death for torturing, killing protester

A court in Sudan on Monday sentenced 27 members of country's security forces to death for torturing and killing a detained protester during uprising against Sudan's longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir earlier this year.

death of protester Ahmed al-Khair, a school teacher, while in detention in February was a key point — and a symbol — in uprising that eventually led to military's ouster of al-Bashir.

Monday's convictions and sentences, which can be appealed, were first connected to killings of protesters in revolt.

Last December, first rally was held in Sudan to protest soaring cost of bre, marking beginning of a pro-democracy movement that convulsed large African country. That led, in April, to toppling by military of al-Bashir, and ultimately to creation of a joint military-civilian Sovereign Council that has committed to rebuilding country and promises elections in three years.

anniversary of that protest this month drew teeming crowds to streets in several cities and towns across country, with people singing, dancing and carrying flags. A train packed with exuberant demonstrators, clapping and chanting, arrived in rrn city of Atbara, birthplace of uprising, from capital, Khartoum.

Monday's verdict in trial of security forces took place in a court in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city, where dozens of protesters h gared outside courtroom, demanding justice for al-Khair.

Al-Khair was detained on Jan. 31 in eastern province of Kassala and was reported de two days later. His body was taken to a local hospital where his family said it was covered in bruises. At time, police denied any police wrongdoing and blamed his death on an “illness,” without providing any details.

court, however, said on Monday that teacher was beaten and tortured while in detention. 27 sentenced were policemen who were working in jail where al-Khair was held or intelligence nts in region.

Also this month, a court in Khartoum convicted al-Bashir of money laundering and corruption, sentencing him to two years in a minimum security lockup. im of former dictator in a defendant's c sent a strong mess, on live TV for all of Sudan.

deposed ruler is under indictment by International Criminal Court on far more serious charges of war crimes and gecide linked to his brutal suppression of insurgency in western province of Darfur in early 2000s. military has refused to extrite him to stand trial in Hague.

Amnesty International and or rights groups have called on new government to hold security forces accountable for killing scores of people in ir efforts to stifle protests against military rule, especially those behind a dely crackdown on a huge sit-in outside military hequarters in Khartoum last June.

Since last December, nearly 200 protesters have been killed in Sudan. government recently appointed independent judges to oversee investigations into killings, a major achievement for protest movement.

Sudan is under heavy international and regional pressure to reform. With ecomy on brink, new government has me it a mission to get Sudan removed from U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism so that it can attract bly needed foreign aid.