KHARTOUM (AFP) – Sudanese military officers jailed for a coup attempt want President Omar al-Bashir to pardon them as “political prisoners,” the army said on Tuesday.
They were convicted last Sunday and ordered to serve sentences ranging from two to five years in prison for the plot last year.
Army spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad said they have waived their right of appeal.
“They requested, under the amnesty announced by President Bashir for all political prisoners, to be pardoned under this,” Saad was quoted as saying by the official SUNA news agency.
Bashir announced last week that all political prisoners would be freed as the government seeks a broad political dialogue, “including (with) those who are armed”.
Authorities then released seven political prisoners, although the opposition says hundreds more are still being held.
Sawarmi has said 11 officers were convicted but one of the defence lawyers said there were only nine.