DEATH TOLL FROM CRACKDOWN IN SUDAN PASSES 100.

101 dead after Sudan militia attacks protest

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Sudanese opposition groups rejected talks with the country’s ruling generals Wednesday as the death toll from the bloody repression of pro-democracy campaigners passed 100 and security forces arrested an opposition leader.

The development came as diplomatic pressure mounted on Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) and its regional allies to halt attempts to crush the protest movement.

An opposition-allied doctors’ group said that 101 people, including at least one child, were confirmed dead and more than 300 injured since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary unit commanded by Lt.-Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — widely known as Hemedti — attacked peaceful protesters in Khartoum on Monday.

The casualties included some 40 bodies allegedly pulled out of the Nile and driven away by security forces.

“The final death toll is expected to be much higher,” the Sudanese doctor’s committee said. “Most of the injuries were critical, requiring urgent surgical intervention and intensive care.”

Lt.-Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of the ruling TMC, and his deputy Dagalo Wednesday issued a surprise statement offering to investigate violence by security services and resume talks with opposition leaders.

The offer came just 24 hours after Burhan had publicly ruled out further talks, and two days after security forces opened fire on protesters in Khartoum.

But opposition groups said the conciliatory statements were belied by continuing violence in the capital and said they would “continue our protests and resistance.”

“This call is not serious,” said Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa, a spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals Association. “Burhan and those under him have killed the Sudanese and are still doing it. Their vehicles patrol the streets, firing at people.”

Hours after the offer of talks was made, security forces arrested Yasir Arman, the leader of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North, the group said. Arman had returned from exile to take part in talks on a democratic transition after Sudan’s military ousted Omar al-Bashir, the dictator who ruled for 30 years, in April.

Witnesses have continued to report beatings, arrests, and shootings over the past three days. There have also been multiple reports of rapes by security services.

“There are tons of these rapid support troops on the streets, searching and beating anyone who goes out. They are even forcibly cutting or shaving people’s hair,” said Mohammed, a 24-yearold Khartoum resident. “It is not safe to walk the streets.”

London Daily Telegraph