Reports from Sudan say the national assembly has passed a bill to form an independent constitutional court.

The government says it is designed to protect the constitution and the rights and freedoms of individuals.

The court will replace the current constitutional circuit in the high court and will be independent of the judiciary.

President Omar Hassan al-Bashir will appoint its members and must sign the bill before it becomes law.

Correspondents say the opposition has rejected the legislation as another attempt to improve the image of the ruling junta which came to power in a 1989 coup.