<p>Most lawyers for Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir and other defendants walked out of his trial over a 1989 coup in protest at alleged bias on the part of the prosecutor general.</p>.<p>Dozens of lawyers, in a hearing broadcast on Sudanese television, left the courtroom after the prosecutor, Tagelsir al-Hebr, read out the charges.</p>.<p>Bashir and the 27 others face accusations of undermining the constitutional order and use of military force to commit a crime, Hebr said.</p>.<p>Defence lawyer Abdelbasit Sebdarat said that Hebr had made the same accusations even before taking up the post of public prosecutor.</p>.<p>"He lodged these complaints as an ordinary citizen. Now, as he is prosecutor general, we object to him reciting the charges," the lawyer said.</p>.<p>Presiding judge Essam Ibrahim responded that "whoever wants to leave, they can", and adjourned the trial to October 20.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/sudan-still-in-crisis-a-year-after-bashirs-ouster-823195.html" target="_blank">Sudan still in crisis a year after Bashir's ouster</a></strong></p>.<p>The 28 defendants stand accused of plotting the 1989 Islamist-backed military coup that brought Bashir to power.</p>.<p>Proceedings have been repeatedly delayed, with Tuesday's hearing the sixth since the trial opened in July.</p>.<p>Bashir ruled with an iron fist for 30 years until his overthrow on April 11, 2019, following unprecedented youth-led street demonstrations.</p>.<p>If convicted, Bashir and his co-accused — including former top officials — could face the death penalty.</p>.<p>Bashir is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in the western region of Darfur.</p>.<p>The United Nations estimates 3,00,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced in the conflict since 2003.</p>.<p>Sudan's transitional government has agreed that Bashir would stand trial before the ICC.</p>.<p>However, in an August peace deal with rebels, the government agreed to set up a special court for crimes in Darfur and that Bashir should also face that court.</p>
<p>Most lawyers for Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir and other defendants walked out of his trial over a 1989 coup in protest at alleged bias on the part of the prosecutor general.</p>.<p>Dozens of lawyers, in a hearing broadcast on Sudanese television, left the courtroom after the prosecutor, Tagelsir al-Hebr, read out the charges.</p>.<p>Bashir and the 27 others face accusations of undermining the constitutional order and use of military force to commit a crime, Hebr said.</p>.<p>Defence lawyer Abdelbasit Sebdarat said that Hebr had made the same accusations even before taking up the post of public prosecutor.</p>.<p>"He lodged these complaints as an ordinary citizen. Now, as he is prosecutor general, we object to him reciting the charges," the lawyer said.</p>.<p>Presiding judge Essam Ibrahim responded that "whoever wants to leave, they can", and adjourned the trial to October 20.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/sudan-still-in-crisis-a-year-after-bashirs-ouster-823195.html" target="_blank">Sudan still in crisis a year after Bashir's ouster</a></strong></p>.<p>The 28 defendants stand accused of plotting the 1989 Islamist-backed military coup that brought Bashir to power.</p>.<p>Proceedings have been repeatedly delayed, with Tuesday's hearing the sixth since the trial opened in July.</p>.<p>Bashir ruled with an iron fist for 30 years until his overthrow on April 11, 2019, following unprecedented youth-led street demonstrations.</p>.<p>If convicted, Bashir and his co-accused — including former top officials — could face the death penalty.</p>.<p>Bashir is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in the western region of Darfur.</p>.<p>The United Nations estimates 3,00,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced in the conflict since 2003.</p>.<p>Sudan's transitional government has agreed that Bashir would stand trial before the ICC.</p>.<p>However, in an August peace deal with rebels, the government agreed to set up a special court for crimes in Darfur and that Bashir should also face that court.</p>