Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the military leadership in Sudan for the release of Yasir Arman; and whether they have sought information on the number of peaceful protestors who have been detained in that country.

The British Government condemns the arrest and detention of Yasir Arman by the Sudanese security forces. We call for his immediate release and for the legitimate demands of Sudanese people to be respected. Violence must not be used, including against opponents. We consistently made clear to the former Government of Sudan our expectation that all detainees should be treated in accordance with international standards; we continue to call upon the Sudanese authorities to do so. Our Ambassador in Khartoum made clear to the Deputy Head of the Transitional Military Committee, on 15 April, the steps that needed to be taken to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees. We also engage regularly with civil society groups on the issue of detainee treatment