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| Arrests made over Sudan beheading | Arrests made over Sudan beheading |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sudanese police say they have made several arrests in connection with the beheading of a Sudanese newspaper editor, who had angered Islamists. | Sudanese police say they have made several arrests in connection with the beheading of a Sudanese newspaper editor, who had angered Islamists. |
| However, police say they have not found the motive for the killing of Mohammed Taha, who is to be buried shortly. | |
| Last year, he was put on trial for blasphemy after his al-Wifaq paper reprinted an article questioning the parentage of the prophet Muhammad. | Last year, he was put on trial for blasphemy after his al-Wifaq paper reprinted an article questioning the parentage of the prophet Muhammad. |
| The charges were later dropped but he could have faced the death penalty. | The charges were later dropped but he could have faced the death penalty. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says no-one has claimed responsibility but suspicion will immediately turn to Sudan's hardline Islamic groups. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Khartoum says no-one has claimed responsibility but suspicion will immediately turn to Sudan's hardline Islamic groups. |
| 'Cowardly murder' | 'Cowardly murder' |
| In May last year, thousands of people demonstrated outside a courtroom in central Khartoum calling for Mr Taha to be put to death. | In May last year, thousands of people demonstrated outside a courtroom in central Khartoum calling for Mr Taha to be put to death. |
| After several emotionally charged days the case was adjourned and later quietly dropped. | After several emotionally charged days the case was adjourned and later quietly dropped. |
| He was also the target of an assassination attempt in 2000, after writing an article which criticised the ruling National Congress Party. | He was also the target of an assassination attempt in 2000, after writing an article which criticised the ruling National Congress Party. |
| Media freedom lobby group Reporters Without Borders condemned the kidnapping and "cowardly murder" of Mr Taha. | Media freedom lobby group Reporters Without Borders condemned the kidnapping and "cowardly murder" of Mr Taha. |
| It urged Sudanese authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. | It urged Sudanese authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. |
| Our correspondent says the killing of Mr Taha, an ally of Khartoum's Islamist government, will raise fears that extremist groups are once again active in Sudan. | Our correspondent says the killing of Mr Taha, an ally of Khartoum's Islamist government, will raise fears that extremist groups are once again active in Sudan. |
| Sudan provided a home for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the 1990s and the country is still on the United States' list of states sponsoring terrorism. | Sudan provided a home for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the 1990s and the country is still on the United States' list of states sponsoring terrorism. |
| Khartoum has been governed by strict Islamic Sharia law since 1983 - but our correspondent says that in recent years courts have shown a degree of flexibility in their interpretations of Islamic law. | Khartoum has been governed by strict Islamic Sharia law since 1983 - but our correspondent says that in recent years courts have shown a degree of flexibility in their interpretations of Islamic law. |