An Islamist opposition leader detained after suggesting Sudan's president give himself up to face war crimes charges was freed Monday after seven weeks, his son said. Hassan Turabi was sent home from an eastern Sudanese prison at dawn. The 76-year-old's deteriorating health was a factor in the release, said his son, Siddique Turabi. He was held without charge, he added, according to the AP.
Turabi was once an ally of President Omar al-Bashir and was the driving force behind a 1989 military coup that brought al-Bashir to power. The two fell out in 1999, and Turabi set up his own party. He has been jailed several other times.
The opposition leader was detained Jan. 14 after telling reporters that al-Bashir should give himself up to the International Criminal Court to save Sudan from internal strife.
Authorities briefly detained Turabi last year after al-Bashir's party accused him of backing a Darfur rebel attack on the capital last year.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
