Sudan military want to retain Sharia as legal guide

KHARTOUM, May 08 (AP): Sudan's army rulers Tuesday said Islamic law should remain the guiding principle in a new civilian structure, after protest leaders handed in proposed changes they want enforced but kept silent on Sharia.

The 10-member military council, which seized control of the country after president Omar al-Bashir was deposed in April, was handed the proposals last week for the new civilian structures protest leaders want.

The military council told reporters that the generals overall agreed to the proposals but had "many reservations". These included the silence on Islamic Sharia law remaining the bedrock of all laws.

"The declaration failed to mention the sources of legislation, and the Islamic sharia law and tradition should be the source of legislation," Lieutenant General Shamseddine Kabbashi, spokesman for the military council, told reporters.

Sudan, under Bashir, saw Islamic law applied inconsistently, even though the country's constitution says that Sharia is the guiding principle.

Over the years this led to thousands of women being flogged for "indecent behaviour," according to women's rights activists.

Kabbashi said the military council was also of the opinion that declarations of emergencies be in the hands of a "sovereign" authority and not the cabinet as proposed by protest leaders.