A Sudanese court on Monday sentenced at least 27 intelligence agents to death for killing a teacher in detention during protests against Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's longtime former leader, earlier this year.

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The defendants were found guilty of torturing to death Ahmed al-Kheir at an intelligence services facility and sentenced to be hanged, judge Sadok Abdelrahman said.

The teacher was beaten and tortured to death after he was arrested in late January by intelligence operatives in Sudan's eastern province of Kassala, the judge said.

Another four officers were sentenced to three years in prison and seven were acquitted in the landmark ruling that paves the way for democratic transition in the North African nation.

Al-Kheir's family said security officials initially claimed he had died of poisoning, though days later a state investigation found he had died of injuries from beating.
Hundreds rallied outside the Omdurman court where the verdict was delivered. Some waved national flags and others held pictures of al-Kheir and cheered after the decision was to announce.