A member of the ruling party in Sudan, Kamal al-Obeid, has confirmed that the Islamic opposition leader, Hassan al-Turabi, has been moved to a high security prison.

Mr al-Turabi's son Saddiq had said earlier that his father, under house arrest since February last year, was moved to prison on Thursday.

A few days before, at least 24 members of Mr al-Turabi's Popular National Congress, PNC, including two former cabinet members, were arrested.

The PNC opposes the peace talks between the government and rebels in southern Sudan, which are currently under way in the Kenyan town of Machakos.

Earlier this week police arrested at least 24 PNC members, accusing them of creating instability and trying to sabotage the peace talks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service