Sudan’s death toll grows as protests target military HQ
SUDANESE security forces killed at least five protesters over the weekend during what organisers said were some of the largest demonstrations in almost four months of campaigning to drive President Omar al-bashir from power.
Thousands of protesters rallied outside the army headquarters in Khartoum for a second day, urging the military to back them in demanding Bashir stand aside. Chanting “Sudan is rising, the army is rising”, crowds massed outside the complex that also houses Bashir’s official residence and the defence ministry. Many had spent the night there, witnesses said.
Riot police fired tear gas in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the crowds. “We won’t leave this area until he steps down,” said demonstrator Osama Ahmed.
The protests, which began in December, have swelled since the resignation last week of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria’s long-serving president, in the face of similar rallies. That gave new hope to Sudanese protesters determined to end Bashir’s reign of almost 30 years.
Security forces have responded fiercely, killing at least 60 people since the protests began, according to Physicians for Human Rights, a New Yorkbased rights group. That figure does not include the latest deaths.
The government has said that 32 people have been killed, including police, but hasn’t updated its tally in weeks.
Police and security forces on Saturday blocked all bridges leading to the capital’s centre from Khartoum North and Omdurman, across the Nile to the north and west respectively, in a bid to prevent the sit-in from swelling.
They remained closed yesterday, causing major traffic jams.
The rallies are being led by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), an umbrella group of independent professional unions.
Sarah Abdel-jaleel, a spokeswoman for the SPA, told Associated Press that four people were killed in Khartoum, the capital, and another protester was killed in the neighbouring city of Omdurman.
The organisers said protesters hurled stones and security forces used batons, tear gas and live fire.
Meanwhile, the electricity ministry said there was a nationwide power cut yesterday, without providing an explanation. It said technicians were working on restoring electricity.