Crowds celebrate prospect of Nimeiri's return

The promised return to Sudan of former president Gaafar Nimeiri brought thousands of supporters onto the streets of Khartoum on Tuesday, media sources in the capital reported. Nimeiri, who has lived in Cairo since his overthrow in 1985, was quoted by AP on Tuesday as saying he hoped to return to Sudan between 17 and 24 May. Abdel-Basit Sabdarat, a close aide of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, was quoted as saying that Khartoum would provide security and appropriate housing for the former head of state, who would not face criminal charges if he returned. Nimeiri was a career soldier and seized power in a coup in 1969 before himself being ousted while on a trip to the US in 1985.