Sudanese Islamist leader al-Turabi dies at 84

KHARTOUM, Sudan – Sudanese state TV says Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi has died in Khartoum at the age of 84.

Al-Turabi played a key role in the 1989 coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, but the two had a falling-out 10 years later, and al-Turabi had been in the opposition ever since. He was also jailed by al-Bashir's government on a number of occasions.

State-run Omdurman TV says the head of the Popular Congress Party passed away on Saturday at the Royal Care International Hospital in the Sudanese capital.

Al-Turabi was brought to the hospital early on Saturday. The cause of death was not immediately known.