afrol News, 29 October - International rights group, Amnesty International, has said a Darfur rebel member sentenced to death for taking part in an attack on the capital, died from ill-treatment while in custody in a Sudanese prison.

Ahmed Suleiman Sulman who died on 21 October at the police hospital was arrested in May 2008 days after a daring rebel attack on the capital, which left 200 dead.

Amnesty International said it holds the Sudanese government responsible for the death of Ahmed Sulman and called for an independent investigation into his death. His body was still in chains and showed evidence of torture when recovered, according to the organisation.

Mr Sulman was one of 103 men sentenced to death by the special counter-terrorism courts established following an attack by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) last year.

“Torture is abhorrent and those responsible for Mr Sulman's ill-treatment and death must be brought to justice in fair trials," said Tawanda Hondora Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme.

Amnesty International also said it has serious concerns regarding the conditions in which prisoners are kept in Kober, and has received numerous accounts of ill-treatment and poor hygiene conditions.

"We are gravely concerned about the prisoners who remain in Kober prison. The Sudanese government must ensure that the detainees' families and doctors have immediate access to them," said the orgnaisation’s official.

According to Amnesty International, the Khartoum government rejected a call by Mr Sulman’s lawyers to release him during his trial as he showed signs of a mental breakdown, which he attributed to torture.

Mr Sulman was also denied visits by his family.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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