UN RAISES CONCERN OVER SUDAN'S DARFUR REBEL TRIALS

the United Nations voiced concern over trials in Sudan that sentenced to death 30 alleged Darfur rebels for an attack on the capital and urged Khartoum to abolish capital punishment. "The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has concerns that the judicial process may not have met international standards," said Ashraf Qazi, special representative of UN chief Ban Ki-moon, calling for a thorough review. Defence lawyers argue the special courts are unconstitutional and have not guaranteed their clients' legal rights. Qazi said "it would appear" that the accused were given access to lawyers only after trials began, and that confessions were extracted while they were held incommunicado and without legal advice. The UN mission charged that the court did not investigate allegations of ill treatment, as the defence requested, through proper medical examination. "UNMIS is concerned that the judicial process under the anti-terrorist act only allows for an extremely limited appellate process," said Qazi. Defence lawyers also said the one-week period to appeal was inadequate.