Sudan politicians publicly flogged

Cairo - A Sudanese opposition political party says three of its leading members have been publicly whipped 20 times each after a criminal court found them guilty of disturbing public order by calling for the boycott of April's presidential elections.

The Sudanese Congress Party Secretary-General Abdul Qayoom Awad al-Sid said the "humiliating" verdict was executed immediately outside the Omdurman criminal court following the verdict against the party's Vice Chair for Political Affairs Mastoor Ahmed Mohamed and two other party officials.

Sudan imposes strict Islamic laws which prescribe flogging as punishment, usually for morality related issues. The three were accused of calling for the boycott during an April meeting.

President Omar al-Bashir was easily re-elected amid thin voter turnout.