Trial began in Sudan on Thursday for 78 men, including members of the leading Islamist opposition Popular Congress party and former military officers, accused of plotting to overthrow the government. The men were arrested for involvement in what the government said was an attempted coup in September. They were charged with provoking war against the state, terrorism, undermining the constitutional system and possessing weapons. The defendants face the death penalty if convicted. Judge Al-Amin al-Tayeb read the charges to 72 men, including five retired members of the armed forces, who sat behind bars in the court room. Six of the men are being tried in absentia.