President raps failed coup bid

SUDAN’S president Omar el-Bashir called on his people to train and prepare to defend their government and country against internal and external enemies, reacting angrily to what authorities said was a foiled coup plot.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ top human rights official said Sudan is in denial about the extent of rape in refugee camps in its traumatised Darfur region, where fear and distrust of the government is pervasive.

Mr El-Bashir spoke to crowds north of Khartoum as authorities in the capital, where troops were out in force, disclosed more details about the failed coup in which the plotters were said to have planned to abduct and kill more than three dozen senior government officials and blow up key sites in the capital.

The Sudan Media Centre quoted Sudanese security authorities as saying the opposition Popular Congress Party, accused of at least two separate coup plots this year, was behind the insurrection. An opposition official rejected the claim.

Mr El-Bashir denounced his former close associate, the detained Congress Party leader Hassan Turabi.

Mr Turabi was the main ideologue of the Islamic fundamentalist government set up after Mr el-Bashir seized power in 1989. But the two men fell out in 1999 when Mr el-Bashir accused Mr Turabi, then the speaker of parliament, of trying to grab power. He then stripped Mr Turabi of his position.

Mr Turabi then formed his party and became the most prominent Islamist in opposition.

News of the coup plot came as international pressure grew on Sudan to end violence between non-Arab villagers and Arab militias allegedly backed by the government. About 50,000 people have died in the 19-month conflict.