Former chief of Sudanese intelligence, Lieutenant Salah Abdullah, commonly known as Salah Gosh, has been been transferred from prison to al-Amal hospital in Khartoum, after his health deteriorated significantly. Abdullah is currently serving a prison sentence for plotting an attempted coup against the state last year. Supporters and relatives gathered outside the hospital after hearing about his sudden heart failure. The ex-chief's wife and daughter were allowed to meet him. Sources revealed that Abdullah was transferred to a hospital in Khartoum last month, where he underwent cardiac catheterisation. The former army general, and a group of Islamist activists were arrested last November, for planning to stage a coup against the government of President Omar al-Bashir. Born in Nuri in northern Sudan, Abdullah became head of the Intelligence and Security Service, before advising the Sudanese president on Security Affairs. However, differences with Presidential Assistant Dr Nafie Ali Nafi, caused him to lose his position. Despite remaining politically active as a member of parliament, and engaging in private business, he was deliberately excluded from government by his peers.