Thousands protest against al-Bashir’s rule across Sudan
CAIRO — Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets Thursday in cities across Sudan, including the capital, where activists said two people were killed in clashes between police and protesters attempting to reach the presidential palace to demand longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir step down.
The protests, called for by professional and opposition groups, are part of a wave of unrest over a failing economy that has transformed into demands for the resignation of the autocratic al-Bashir, an Islamist who has run the country for nearly 30 years but brought little improvement to his people. The protests first erupted on Dec. 19.
The government crackdown has been harsh over the past month, with rights advocates reporting the use of excessive force by police, and Amnesty International accusing security forces of firing tear gas and live ammunition in and around hospitals.
At least 40 people have been killed in the clashes, according to rights groups, but the government has acknowledged only 24 deaths.
Videos posted online — the main method to communicate freely in Sudan — showed several marches in the hundreds across the country, with activists claiming nearly 2,000 demonstrators were in central Khartoum and two dozen of its neighborhoods.
They also circulated photos showing several demonstrators purportedly injured by live fire.
As in previous attempts, police Thursday prevented the protesters from reaching the palace in Khartoum, using tear gas, rubber bullets and firing live ammunition in the air to disperse them.