Djibouti's former police chief General Yacin Yabeh Galab has been charged with conspiracy and murder, after he led a mutiny against the regime last week, the state prosecutor has said.
Galab led a police mutiny in the small Red Sea state on December 7 after he was sacked by President Ismail Omar Guelleh. The rebellion was only put down after eight hours of fighting between rebel police and the armed forces.
He and 12 officers have been charged with murder -- the Djibouti authorities say two people died in the violence -- and conspiracy.
They risk 15 to 20 years' imprisonment. The date of the trial has not been fixed.
French officials in Djibouti handed Galab over to the authorities last Saturday, after receiving assurances he would be accorded normal civil rights.
Until the mutiny, Galab had been considered close to Guelleh, who was elected 18 months ago -- DJIBOUTI (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
