Sudan Trial Defense Rejects Case Against Ousted Bashir

Sudan's toppled president Omar al-Bashir waves to the crowd during an April 2012 visit to the Northern Kordofan town of El-Obeid to address newly-trained paramilitary troops | AFP
Sudan's toppled president Omar al-Bashir waves to the crowd during an April 2012 visit to the Northern Kordofan town of El-Obeid to address newly-trained paramilitary troops | AFP
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Sudan Trial Defense Rejects Case Against Ousted Bashir

Sudan's toppled president Omar al-Bashir waves to the crowd during an April 2012 visit to the Northern Kordofan town of El-Obeid to address newly-trained paramilitary troops | AFP
Sudan's toppled president Omar al-Bashir waves to the crowd during an April 2012 visit to the Northern Kordofan town of El-Obeid to address newly-trained paramilitary troops | AFP

The trial of Sudan's ousted president Omar al-Bashir and others over a 1989 coup heard defense arguments Tuesday dismissing charges of illegal use of military force.

The latest hearing coincided with a mission to Khartoum by a team from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has sought for almost a decade to try Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

It was held as Sudan celebrated a US decision to remove the country from Washington's blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism.

The ex-president and 27 others are being tried in Khartoum accused of plotting the 1989 Islamist-backed military coup that brought him to power.

"The next hearing will be held on November 3 to resume listening to defense lawyers' arguments responding to the accusations," said judge Essam Ibrahim.

Defense lawyers in the latest hearing refuted accusations by Sudan's prosecutor general Tagelsir al-Hebr against Bashir and the other defendants.

Hebr has accused them of multiple charges including undermining constitutional order and using military force to commit a crime.

Most of the defense team walked out of the previous hearing in protest at alleged bias on the part of the prosecutor general.

On Tuesday, defense lawyer Serageldin Hamed stressed what he termed "the illegality and unconstitutionality of the public prosecutor overseeing the filing of charges".

Bashir held power for 30 years until his overthrow on April 11, 2019, following unprecedented mass youth-led street demonstrations.

It is the first time in modern Arab history that the leader of a coup has been put on trial.

If convicted, Bashir and his co-accused -- including former top officials -- could face the death penalty.

Since his ouster, Bashir has been jailed in Khartoum's high-security Kober prison and was found guilty last December of corruption.

He has also indicted by the ICC over the Darfur conflict that erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms, accusing Khartoum of political and economic marginalization of their vast region.

The United Nations estimates 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced in the conflict in western Sudan.

Sudanese officials have since Saturday held talks with the visiting ICC team on options for trying Bashir over Darfur, including his handover or the formation of a hybrid court.



Arab Coalition Denies Houthi Leader’s Claims on Brother’s Remains

Houthi supporters shout slogans as they hold their weapons up during a rally marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in Sanaa, Yemen, 29 November 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters shout slogans as they hold their weapons up during a rally marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in Sanaa, Yemen, 29 November 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
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Arab Coalition Denies Houthi Leader’s Claims on Brother’s Remains

Houthi supporters shout slogans as they hold their weapons up during a rally marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in Sanaa, Yemen, 29 November 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters shout slogans as they hold their weapons up during a rally marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in Sanaa, Yemen, 29 November 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

The Saudi-led Arab Coalition’s spokesman, Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, has denied Houthi leader Hussein Al-Ezzi's claims of a recent handover of his brother's body, calling them misleading.

Al-Maliki told Asharq Al-Awsat that the claims, circulated by Houthi-linked outlets, are “inaccurate and lack credibility.”

He clarified that the exchange of remains took place in June 2023, involving the recovery of nine Saudi soldiers and 20 Yemeni army personnel, as well as the return of 57 Houthi fighters killed at the border.

Hussein Al-Ezzi, a senior Houthi figure and former deputy foreign minister in Yemen’s unrecognized government, announced his brother’s death in a post on X, accompanied by a photo.

Al-Ezzi stated there would be no condolence gathering, claiming the focus should remain on the group’s fight against Israel.

When asked about the timing of the announcement, Al-Maliki dismissed the claims as misleading.

"Such statements are likely made for internal Houthi reasons. Notably, the name mentioned was not among those listed during negotiations for body exchanges. It’s possible this individual was killed in regional conflicts,” Al-Maliki said.

Al-Maliki emphasized that the coalition views the exchange of prisoners and remains as a strictly humanitarian matter.

“This issue should not be politicized by any party, in line with Islamic values, humanitarian principles, and cultural traditions,” he said.