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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 May - 2 June 1999 Issue No. 431 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 May - 2 June 1999 Issue No. 431
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Living Features Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Nimeiri goes home
THE RETURN of former Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiri to Khartoum after 14 years in exile in Egypt sparked mixed reaction among Sudanese and political parties. While Nimeiri was greeted upon his arrival on Saturday at Khartoum Airport by government officials and thousands of supporters, Sudanese opposition leaders were outraged that he had returned home upon an invitation from Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir's government, and described him as a "butcher". The former president, however, appeared to be strongly backed by the Sudanese government.Nimeiri had said his return was in response to an appeal made by a party formed by his supporters, the Working People's Forces Alliance. A few hours after his return, he met with Al-Bashir and had an hour-long, closed-door meeting with National Assembly Speaker Hassan Al-Turabi, seen by many as Sudan's actual ruler.
Sudanese judicial authorities have turned down the first legal complaint made against Nimeiri by his opponents demanding he be tried for atrocities he committed while in power. The authorities said Nimeiri was granted a presidential amnesty which makes it illegal to put him on trial.
(photos: AP, AFP)
