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11 Darfur Rebels Get Death Penalty for Khartoum Attack


A Sudanese court has sentenced another 11 Darfur rebels to death for a deadly attack on the capital last year.

Judge Hafez Ahmed found the men guilty of involvement of the attack in verdicts issued Sunday. Eight other men were acquitted.

There are now more than 80 rebels from the rebel Justice and Equality Movement who have been sentenced to death for the attack.

Prosecutors say the rebels traveled more than 1,000 kilometers from Darfur in western Sudan to attack Khartoum and its twin city, Omdurman, in May of 2008.

Government forces drove back the assault in fighting that killed more than 200 people.

The government later arrested hundreds of people for trial in special courts, which defense lawyers argue are unconstitutional.

The court process has marred peace negotiations, as the rebels refuse to rejoin the talks until all political prisoners are released.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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