Ousted Sudanese leader ‘received millions from Saudis’
Sudan’s deposed leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir told investigators he had received millions of dollars from
Saudi Arabia, a detective said in court yesterday. Bashir, who was ousted and detained in April, is facing
charges of illicit possession of foreign currency and accepting gifts in an unofficial manner. His trial will be a
test of how serious authorities are about trying to erase the legacy of his autocratic 30-year rule, marked by
widespread violence, economic collapse and the secession of South Sudan.
On Saturday, Sudan’s ruling military council, which took over after Bashir was ousted in April, signed a
power-sharing agreement with the main opposition coalition, paving the way for a transitional government
and eventual elections. The sovereign council was due to be sworn in yesterday, but the spokesperson for
the Transitional Military Council said the formation of the new ruling body would be delayed by 48 hours
on the request of the opposition coalition. Reuters
Turkish military convey hit by airstrikes in Syria
Airstrikes have halted a Turkish military convoy carrying ammunition after it crossed into northern Syria,
bound for a rebel-held stronghold, according to opposition activists. Three civilians have been killed in the
attack, with 12 others injured, the defence ministry said. It didn’t provide other details but “strongly
condemned” the airstrikes, adding they were contrary to “existing agreements as well as our cooperation
and dialogue with Russia”.
It called for “urgent measures” to prevent a repeat of the incident. It wasn’t immediately clear who was
behind the strikes, Syrian or Russian warplanes. Turkey has 12 observation posts in and on the edge of Idlib
as part of an agreement reached with Russia. Syria’s foreign ministry criticised Turkey, saying the convoy
consisted of armoured vehicles loaded with ammunition and was heading to Khan Sheikhoun, a major rebel-
held town in Idlib province, the country’s last rebel stronghold. AP