Sudan arrests leader of foiled coup attempt

Sudan's Security and Defense Council on Tuesday announced the arrest of Major General Abdul-Baqi Hassan Osman, the leader of the foiled coup attempt, reported Xinhua.

The council added that 22 other military officers of different ranks and a number of non-commissioned officers and soldiers were also arrested.

The council held an emergency meeting, chaired by Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, to discuss the security situation in Sudan following the thwarted coup attempt.

"The initial investigations indicated that the coup attempt aimed to seize power and undermine the current transitional period," Sudan's Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim Yassin said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Sudanese authorities announced foiling of a coup attempt carried out by a group of armed forces officers from the remnants of the former regime.

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said the foiled coup attempt was orchestrated by elements inside and outside the army.