Authorities release 57 prisoners

Authorities released 57 prisoners from the federal Kober Prison to implement the decree issued by president Omar al Bashir.

Authorities released 57 prisoners from the federal Kober Prison to implement the decree issued by president Omar al Bashir. All prisoners were captured in the JEM attack on Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum. Minister of Justice Basit Sabdarat said in a press conference the president increased the number of those convicts who were to be released to 50 percent instead of 30 percent. Fifty convicts had been already sentenced to the death penalty. The other 7 cases were still under investigation. Abdul Aziz, the half brother of Justice and Equality Movemement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim was not among those who were released. Sabdarat told Radio Dabanga that there were not specific criteria for this first release and all convicted are equal. He added that others will be released dependent on the progress of the talks.