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Former Sudanese President al-Bashir to Go on Trial Tuesday for 1989 Coup

VOA News

   Former longtime Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is due to go on trial
   Tuesday in Khartoum for his role in the military coup which initially
   brought him to power three decades ago.

   The former head of state, who was ousted from power last year following
   nationwide anti-government protests, is already serving a
   two-yearprison termforcorruption.

   The 76-year-old al-Bashir and 16 others have been implicated in the
   1989 military takeover of the government.

   The trial comes as Sudan's transitional government launches reforms,
   with the goal of regaining acceptanceamong theinternational community.

   Sudan has also promised to hand over al-Bashir to the International
   Criminal Court to face trial on war crimes and genocide charges related
   to the 2003 Darfur conflict,when rebels begananinsurrection to protest
   the Sudanese government's disregard for the non-Arab people in the
   western region.

   Atleast 300,000people died during the conflict and millions of others
   were displaced.

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