Deadly clashes in Sudan leave at least 30 dead as protests disperse
● Security forces strike sit-in camp ● Hundreds hurt in morning attack
Sudanese security forces have attacked a protest camp in the nation’s capital, opening fire, torching tents and killing at least 30 people as they cleared away the months-old sit-in that was demanding the military yield power.
In videos posted online amid yesterday’s early morning assault, civilians were seen running through Khartoum’s streets lined with tents as the sound of gunfire filled the air. Smoke rose from the area.
Azza al-kamel, a doctor at the Royal Care hospital near the sprawling sit-in area outside the capital’ s military headquarters, said: “Wounded people are lying on the ground at the reception area as there are not enough beds.”
At least 30 people were killed and more than 200 wounded, according to the Forces for Declaration of Freedom and Change, which represents the protesters in negotiations.
By midday securit y forces controlled almost the entire camp, pushing out protesters and sealing off the nearly 1 square mile area, two protesters said.
“We are out and cannot get in,” said Hisham Shalbi, a protest leader. He said only a few small pockets of protesters in the area remained.
The camp has been the epicentre of a protest movement that first succeeded in forcing the overthrow of Sudan’s long-time strongman Omar al-bashir in April.
After the militar y removed Mr al-bashir and seized power, tens of thousands of pro - testers remained in the camp and other protest sites, saying an end to his 30-year rule was not enough and demanding a sp eedy transition to civilian rule. Protest leaders and militar y officials have b een negotiating over the make-up of a transitional government as protesters call for “limited militar y representation” in a sovereign council that would lead the country as it transitions to civilian rule over three years. The protest leadership announced after the assault that it was suspending talks.
Both sides are split over the make-up and leadership of the council, with the generals refusing to relinquish power.
Shams al-deen al-kabashi, a spokesman for the ruling military council, said in televised remarks the military was targeting an area near the sit-in site, considered problematic by the authorities because of alleged criminal activity. He said people from that area moved to the main protest site, leading to clashes. MralKabashi did not say if the military’s goal was to break up the entire sit-in camp.
Protest leaders urged sup - porters to rush to the site and called for civil disobedience. The embassies of the United States and Britain expressed concern about reported attacks on civilians.
Yesterday’s move by the military began in the early morning.
Activist Dura Gambo said large numbers of troops had besieged the sit-in area and arrested protesters trying to leave .“They have used the heavy rain yesterday and moved in the early morning to disperse people,” she said.
Amal al-zein, another activist, said security forces set fire to the tents in the sit-in area. “They are surrounding the sit-in from all directions,” she said.
The Sudan Doctors’ Committee said medical person ne land injured people were trapped in clinics in the area and demanded they be allowed to leave.
Gunshots and explosions were heard, with buses and soldiers on foot blocking roads leading to the protest site. Civilians were not allowed to walk in the streets, including women and children.
Videos circulating online appeared to show protesters standing at low brick barricades in the street, then being driven back by walls of blueclad security forces carrying sticks.
Other videos showed protesters running through streets as gunshots were heard.