Sudanese army announces foiling of coup attempt

KHARTOUM - Sudanese army on Wednesday announced foiling a military coup attempt, led by the army chief and high ranking officers in the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and Islamist leaders.

Army's Chief of Joint Staff Hashim Abdel-Mutallab Ahmed, NISS high ranking officers, as well as leaders from the Islamic Movement and former ruling National Congress Party (NCP), were involved in the coup attempt, SUNA news agency reported, quoting the Sudanese army in a statement.

Suspects in the coup attempt have been arrested and are now under investigation before a trial, the report said.

The army said the attempted coup tended to foil the Sudanese revolution, bring back the former NCP to rule and sabotage the expected political solution and the establishment of a civilian-led government, said the report.

On July 17, the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition Freedom and Change Alliance initialed a political declaration, which outlines the structures of the transitional period.

The declaration, reached under mediation by the African Union and Ethiopia, stipulates the establishment of a joint sovereignty council of 11 members, including five civilians and five military representatives, in addition to one civilian to be selected through consultation between the two sides.