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Ten to die over Sudan beheading Ten to die over Sudan beheading
(about 11 hours later)
Ten men have been sentenced to death over the murder last year of Sudanese newspaper editor Mohammed Taha.Ten men have been sentenced to death over the murder last year of Sudanese newspaper editor Mohammed Taha.
There was a national outcry when Taha's decapitated body was found in a street in Khartoum after he was kidnapped.There was a national outcry when Taha's decapitated body was found in a street in Khartoum after he was kidnapped.
At the end of a nine-month trial, 10 men from a Darfur tribe now face death - unusually by firing squad, according to a member of their defence team. At the end of a nine-month trial, 10 men from a Darfur tribe now face the death penalty, according to a member of their defence team.
Kamal Omar said that was a punishment normally reserved for the military, and had no basis in the law. Members of Taha's family cried "Long live justice!" as the verdicts were pronounced in the Khartoum courtroom.
Members of Taha's family cried "Long live justice!" as the verdicts were pronounced in the courtroom in Khartoum, AFP news agency reported.
The men - who belong to the Fur tribe from the troubled region of Darfur - did not react.The men - who belong to the Fur tribe from the troubled region of Darfur - did not react.
Capital punishment in Sudan is normally by hanging, and Mr Omer accused the court of being influenced by the political establishment. He said the men would appeal against their sentences. Capital punishment in Sudan is normally carried out by hanging.
The men's lawyer, Kamal Omer, accused the court of being influenced by the political establishment and said the men would appeal against their sentences.
Earlier he said the men faced death by firing squad - a punishment normally reserved for the military - but state media said on Sunday they would be hanged.
Controversial editorControversial editor
Despite being an Islamist himself, Mr Taha - who edited the al-Wifaq newspaper - sparked angry demonstrations when in 2005 he reprinted an article questioning the roots of the Prophet Muhammad.Despite being an Islamist himself, Mr Taha - who edited the al-Wifaq newspaper - sparked angry demonstrations when in 2005 he reprinted an article questioning the roots of the Prophet Muhammad.
He was put on trial for blasphemy but the charges were later dropped.He was put on trial for blasphemy but the charges were later dropped.
In 2000, Mr Taha was the target of an assassination attempt after writing an article which criticised the ruling National Congress Party.In 2000, Mr Taha was the target of an assassination attempt after writing an article which criticised the ruling National Congress Party.
Authorities say he also angered Darfuris by writing articles questioning the morals of Darfuri women - just as a counter-insurgency campaign in Sudan's west created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises with aid agencies documenting widespread rape, the BBC's Amber Henshaw in Sudan reports.Authorities say he also angered Darfuris by writing articles questioning the morals of Darfuri women - just as a counter-insurgency campaign in Sudan's west created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises with aid agencies documenting widespread rape, the BBC's Amber Henshaw in Sudan reports.
Despite his controversial past, thousands of weeping mourners attended Mr Taha's funeral in September 2006.Despite his controversial past, thousands of weeping mourners attended Mr Taha's funeral in September 2006.
Many saw similarities with brutal killings by al-Qaeda militants in Iraq, our correspondent reports.Many saw similarities with brutal killings by al-Qaeda militants in Iraq, our correspondent reports.