Protesters converge on Sudanese capital after president’s reign ends
Tens of thousands of people have joined the main sit-in protest in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to pressure the ruling military council to speed up the transition of power to a civilian government.
The show of strength came as the new rulers announced the arrests of former president Omar al-bashir’s two brothers on corruption charges.
Military council spokesman General Shams Eddin Kabashi was quoted as saying Abdullah and Abbas al-bashir were taken into custody, without providing additional details or saying when it happened.
The arrests were part of a broad sweep against officials and supporters of the former government.
The Sudanese military ousted Omar al-bashir last week after four months of street protests against his 30-year rule marred by conflict, civil war and corruption.
He is also wanted for genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court for atrocities committee in the western region of Darfur.
“The arrests are ongoing of the ousted regime’s figures in addition to those who are suspected of corruption,” Gen. Kabashi said, adding authorities were looking for a number of wanted fugitives.
He said the detainees would be held in prisons in Khartoum and other cities.
The English-language Sudan Tribune newspaper said the brothers and Omar al-bashir’s wife are suspected of having accumulated illegal wealth through the years of albashir’s rule.
The brothers’ detention was probably another concession by the military to the protesters, who have demanded that all key figures and ranking officials from the former president’s circle be arrested.
A number of al-bashir’s close associates and former government officials have already been taken into custody since the military overthrew him last Thursday. A number of them are also wanted by the International Criminal Court.
The military council that now runs the country said the ex-president was transferred Tuesday to Koper Prison in the capital Khartoum – a facility notorious for holding political prisoners under al-bashir.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which has been spearheading anti-government street protests since mid-december, working with several opposition groups, released a proposed blueprint for the transfer of power from the military to a civilian government.
Though the street protesters were overjoyed at al-bashir’s ousting, they were not happy with the military taking over and have demanded a swift handover of power to civilian rule. The military council has said it plans to rule for a maximum of two years as the country prepares for new elections.