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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Darfur rebels sentenced to death | Darfur rebels sentenced to death |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A Sudanese court has sentenced 11 Darfur rebels to death for an attack on Khartoum in 2008. | A Sudanese court has sentenced 11 Darfur rebels to death for an attack on Khartoum in 2008. |
| The members of the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) were found guilty of involvement in the unprecedented assault on the Sudanese capital. | The members of the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) were found guilty of involvement in the unprecedented assault on the Sudanese capital. |
| Some 80 Jem members have already been sentenced to death for the attack, which left more than 200 people dead. | |
| The Jem fighters drove across the desert to reach Khartoum and were only stopped near the presidential palace. | The Jem fighters drove across the desert to reach Khartoum and were only stopped near the presidential palace. |
| On Sunday, Judge Hafez Ahmed at the court in Khartoum found the 11 rebels guilty of terrorism and illegal possession of weapons, the AFP news agency reported. | On Sunday, Judge Hafez Ahmed at the court in Khartoum found the 11 rebels guilty of terrorism and illegal possession of weapons, the AFP news agency reported. |
| "For their actions in terrorising the people, and threatening the foundation of the state... aggressive sentences are required," the judge told the courtroom. | |
| Eight other men were acquitted. | Eight other men were acquitted. |
| The attack in May 2008 was the closest the rebels have ever been to Khartoum. | The attack in May 2008 was the closest the rebels have ever been to Khartoum. |
| Local residents said the fighting lasted several hours. | Local residents said the fighting lasted several hours. |
| Jem is currently the most significant fighting rebel force in Darfur. | |
| In February, Jem signed a "declaration of intent" for a peaceful settlement of the war during talks with Sudan's government in Doha, Qatar. | |
| But Jem is now refusing to return to the peace talks, accusing Khartoum of not honouring confidence-building accords. |