Sudan's military council releases 3 rebel leaders

KHARTOUM (AA) - Sudan’s ruling military council has released three leaders of the rebel SPLM-N group.

Yassir Arman, Khamis Jalab and Mubarak Ardol were set free, the official Sudanese news agency said, without giving any further details.

Sudanese authorities have yet to confirm the release, which came two days after British Ambassador in Khartoum, Irfan Siddiq, called for the immediate release of the three rebel leaders.

SPLM-N has engaged in armed insurgency against government forces in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011.

The release came one day after Sudanese protesters staged a nationwide civil disobedience campaign as part of pressure on the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) to hand over power to a civilian government.

Sudan has remained in turmoil since April 11, when the military establishment deposed long-serving President Omar al-Bashir after months of popular protests against his 30-year rule.