SUDAN CONDEMNS SEVEN DARFUR REBELS TO DEATH

November 28, 2011: A Sudanese court sentenced seven members of a Darfur rebel group to death by hanging for ambushing a convoy last year and killing more than 50 soldiers escorting it, state media reported.
"The special court for crimes in Darfur... during the morning session today at its headquarters in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, sentenced to death by hanging seven members of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)," the official SUNA news agency reported.
Of the 10 defendants on trial, three were spared the death penalty and placed in custody, being below the age of criminal responsibility.
The January 2010 attack targeted a convoy travelling from Khartoum to Nyala in South Darfur, in which the JEM rebels killed the convoy commander and 53 soldiers and stole fuel trucks and food supplies, according to the report.
Those convicted have appealed the ruling, which must be approved by the high court in Khartoum. (Sources: AFP, 28/11/2011)