Sudan military warns protesters

Rallies Sunday to call for civilian leadership

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan’s ruling military council warned protest leaders Saturday that they would be held responsible for any destruction or damage by “vandals” and people “with an agenda” ahead of planned mass rallies demanding civilian rule more than two months after the military ousted President Omar al-Bashir.

The country’s pro-democracy movement called for demonstrations across the country Sunday despite efforts by the African Union and Ethiopia to bring the generals and the protest leaders back to the negotiating table. The AU and Ethiopia have mediated between the two sides and floated a proposal for a transition of power.

But protest leaders said they believe the military’s comments were meant as a threat to allow them to quash Sunday’s demonstrations. The Sudanese Professionals’ Association, a protest organization, said security forces stormed its headquarters late Saturday and banned its planned news conference ahead of the rallies.

The protests are planned to mark the 30th anniversary of the Islamist-backed coup that brought Omar al-Bashir to power in 1989, toppling Sudan’s last elected government. The protest groups said the demonstrations would not be canceled unless the military council hands power over to civilians.

The military council warned against “any destruction or damage” to people and state institutions because of “traffic disruption or road closure” during Sunday’s rallies.

Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy head of the military council, insisted the council does not oppose the planned demonstrations.

“We are not against peaceful rallies. But there are (vandals), people who have an agenda. We do not want troubles; we do not need strife,” he told a gathering of army supporters in the capital of Khartoum.

Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, said security forces and troops would be deployed to provide “security for people, not for harassing them.”

But Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa, a spokesman for the SPA, said the military council’s comments were a “pretext” to allow the military to quash the upcoming protests.

“For six months, our protests have been peaceful, and we did not commit any kind of terrorism, destruction or damage,” he said.

Hussein Malla The Associated Press Soldiers stand guard during a military-backed rally Saturday south of Khartoum, Sudan. Mass rallies are scheduled to take place across the country Sunday.