IN THE WORLD TODAY

Deposed PM on track to be re-instated

ADEAL has been reached between Sudan’s military and civilian leaders to re-instate prime minister Abdalla Hamdok. The leader, who was deposed in a coup last month, is to return to office, according to military and government officials.

They also said that government officials and politicians arrested since the October 25 coup would be released as part of the deal between the military and political parties, including the largest Umma Party.

The party later issued a statement suggesting it had not signed off on the deal.

Hamdok would lead an independent technocratic cabinet, the officials said, adding that the UN, the US and others had played “crucial roles” in crafting the agreement.

The coup, which happened more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government, has drawn international criticism.

The US, its allies and the UN have condemned the use of excessive force against anti-coup protesters.

The agreement comes days after doctors said that at least 15 people had been killed by live fire during demonstrations.

The military has tightened its grip on power, appointing a new, military-run Sovereign Council, chaired by coup leader General

Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The Umma Party released a statement stressing its opposition to any deal that failed to “meet the aspirations of all revolutionaries and the Sudanese people.

It added:”The party expresses its faith in the victorious and rebellious resistance ... it shall always stand by the people to protect justice.”