Turabi released with political detainees; attributes release to pressure

The leader of the Sudanese opposition People's Congress Hassan al-Turabi said he attributes his release to what he described as internal and external pressure on the Sudanese government.

In statements to al-Jazeera TV yesterday immediately after his release from prison, Turabi added he will continue his seek to complete what he called freedoms under the balance of forces which started to prevail on the Sudanese arena.

For his part, the foreign relations official at the People's Congress party Muhammad Elamine Khaleifa said that releasing the leader of the Congress Party was made without condition. He reiterated that Turabi's release came as a result of the political bottleneck that Sudan passes at the meantime and the internal and external pressures. Khaleifa explained that the party will continue strong opposition for the government and all its activities with full freedom.

Immediately after he went out of the prison, Turabi visited the headquarters of the opposition People's Congress before he return back home.

Yesterday, the Sudanese authorities released Turabi and all political detainees from his party, according to a decision issued by President Omar Hassan al- Bashir. The Presidential decree also stated re-opening the party's general headquarters and its paper once again.