Turabi released; criticizes freedom in Sudan

Leader of the Sudanese opposition People's Congress, Hassan al-Turabi, strongly criticized the Interim constitution in Sudan which has been discussed by the parliament in preparations to adopting it and described it of being not concerned with "freedoms in the country."

In his first statement following his release, Turabi said that freedoms have been witnessing great recession in the course of continued closure of newspapers and censoring public activities and continued emergency law.

On Thursday, the Sudanese authorities released Turabi after 15 months he spent in the detention over accusations he is involved in a conspiracy to topple the ruling regime.

Turabi's release came following a speech by the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir delivered on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the national salvation revolution in which he promised to proceed forward in expanding political participation and achieving national unity.

The decision provided for Turabi's release concluded with removing the embargo from the party's activities and handing him over of all its headquarters in the capital Khartoum and the Sudanese states and lifting embargo off his newspaper. Abdullah Hassan Ahmad, deputy chairman of the People's Congress said that Turabi's release had no conditions placed on him or the party, noting that Turabi can practice all his political activities.

Turabi, 75 years old, was arrested by the end of March 2004 after the announcement made by the authorities of foiling a coupe attempt run by Islamists supporters to him. He was arrested 6 months after custody was lifted off him imposed for three months in 2003.