Hijackers could face death penalty

Sudan will charge with terrorism five Ethiopians who hijacked a military aircraft last month, ‘Al-Anba’ newspaper said on Sunday. The hijackers would also be charged with conspiring to commit a crime, taking part in a crime and endangering a means of transport, the pro-Sudanese government newspaper said. The news followed comments made by Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma’il last month that the four men and one woman would be tried in Khartoum, as promised during negotiations, and could face the death penalty, ‘Al-Anba’ said.

The five military academy students had taken control of the internal flight on 26 April and diverted it to Khartoum, demanding greater political freedoms in Ethiopia. All 50 passengers and crew were released unharmed after the hijackers were given guarantees they would not be extradited to face trial in Ethiopia. Ethiopian government officials had said the hijackers were disgruntled trainee pilots who seized the aircraft hoping to acquire visas to live in Britain or the United States.