An alleged top member of the Darfur rebel group that attacked Sudan's capital in May has appeared in court.

AbdulAziz Ashur and at least seven other defendants were in court inKhartoum Thursday facing charges for their role in the attack. Ashur is said to be a relative of the leader of the rebel Justice andEquality Movement - Khalil Ibrahim.

JEM launched the attack onKhartoum and its suburb, Omdurman, May 10 after crossing hundreds ofkilometers of desert. It was the closest rebels from the westernDarfur region have come to the capital. At least 200 people died in theviolence.

Sudan began proceedings last month against 39 other suspected Darfur rebels on terrorism charges.
 
HumanRights Watch last month urged Sudan's government to release or chargethe hundreds of Darfuris who have been arrested since last month'sattack. The New York-based group said prisoners have complained ofmistreatment and torture.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.