A constitutional court in Sudan to protect the constitution

The Sudanese National Assembly (Parliament) has approved the establishment of a seven-judge constitutional court, appointed by President of the Republic.

The Sudanese dailies said on Thursday that members of the court, which is in charge of settling constitutional disputes, will be appointed for five years and are to "protect the constitution and preserve it."

Speaker of the Parliament Hassan Turabi said that the establishment of the court "is of a very great importance."

The opposition criticized the new step. Chairman of the "National Coalition to Restore Democracy," lawyer Ghazi Suleiman, said the court is a "a new instrument in the hands of the authorities."