Report: Sudan military to free four ministers detained in coup

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan's top general on Thursday ordered the release of four ministers of the now-deposed government who were detained amid a widely condemned military coup last week, the country's state-run news agency reported.

Moez Hadra, a defence lawyer for the deposed officials, said the ministers have yet to be freed.

The SUNA news agency said that General Abdel-Fattah Burhan had issued the decision for Hamza Baloul, minister of information and culture, Hashim Hasabel-Rasoul, minister of communications, Ali Gedou, minister of trade and international cooperation, and Youssef Adam, minister of youth and sports to be let go.

Thursday's development comes as the country's top generals and former civilian leaders are locked in tense negotiations for a way out of the crisis sparked by the military takeover last week.

International pressure to resolve the crisis and re-install the civilian transitional government has been mounting.

Meanwhile, protest leaders and rights workers are warning of a widespread arrest campaign against activists and opposition leaders.

On October 25, Burhan dissolved the transitional government and detained other government officials and political leaders in a coup.

Many were taken from their homes in the early morning hours and have been kept in undisclosed locations.

The military leaders also raided the state news television headquarters and cut off mobile and Internet communications across the country.

Tens of thousands of people came out to protest. Internet services were still restricted.

Meanwhile, the international community is continuing to press for a de-escalation that can put Sudan back on the path to democracy.

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to hold an emergency session on the situation on Friday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres encouraged general Burhan in a phone call on Thursday to take action toward resolving “the political crisis in Sudan and urgently restoring the constitutional order and Sudan's transitional process,” UN associate spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said.

The UN chief reiterated his call for the release of former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other civilians who were arbitrarily detained, she said, adding that the body's special envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, continues to speak to all parties and is in contact with the United States.

Hadra said the four ministers who are meant to be released are among the 100 government officials and political leaders who were arrested during the coup.

Half of them, he said, are believed to be held in Khartoum and the others are scattered across the country's provinces.

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