Berlin - A Sudanese man was convicted Thursday of espionage and given a suspended 18-month prison term for conducting surveillance of Sudanese exiles and human-rights activists in Germany.

At the start of his trial last month, he admitted observing the other Sudanese, and making video films of them, for a fee of 100 euros (155 dollars) monthly. The accused, 40, has been in custody since his arrest six months ago.

The court said he was in the pay of an official at the Sudanese embassy in Berlin from August 2006 till his arrest in October 2007.

Evidence showed Khartoum wanted to know about the actions of German-based opponents of its Islamist policies and actions in Darfur.

The sentence was in accord with a plea bargain agreed when the trial began. The accused told the Berlin court he had been desperate for money to pay his critically ill father's medical bills because he could only get casual jobs in Berlin. (dpa)