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Sudan crisis: 'Paramilitary unit' puts Khartoum under lockdown Sudan crisis: 'Paramilitary unit' puts Khartoum under lockdown
(about 1 hour later)
Sudanese paramilitary forces are pushing deeper into Khartoum, witnesses say, after a crackdown on protesters killed at least 30 people on Monday.Sudanese paramilitary forces are pushing deeper into Khartoum, witnesses say, after a crackdown on protesters killed at least 30 people on Monday.
Heavily armed members of the Rapid Support Forces are said to be fanning out across the capital and the neighbouring city of Omdurman, clearing barricades and firing into the air.Heavily armed members of the Rapid Support Forces are said to be fanning out across the capital and the neighbouring city of Omdurman, clearing barricades and firing into the air.
The military has faced international condemnation for the crackdown. The military has faced international condemnation for the deadly crackdown.
It has ended a pact with the protesters over a transition to civilian rule.It has ended a pact with the protesters over a transition to civilian rule.
The two sides had initially agreed a three-year transition, culminating in elections. On Monday, however, the military said polls would be held within nine months. The two sides had initially agreed a three-year transition, culminating in elections. On Monday, however, the Transitional Military Council (TMC) said polls would be held within nine months.
The demonstrators had argued that a longer period was needed in order to guarantee fair elections and dismantle the political network associated with the former government of President Omar al-Bashir.The demonstrators had argued that a longer period was needed in order to guarantee fair elections and dismantle the political network associated with the former government of President Omar al-Bashir.
Mr Bashir was overthrown by the military in April, amid pressure from the protesters. He had been president of Sudan for 30 years. After 30 years in power, Mr Bashir was overthrown by the military in April, amid pressure from the protesters.
The demonstrators had been occupying the square in front of the military headquarters since 6 April, five days before Mr Bashir was overthrown.The demonstrators had been occupying the square in front of the military headquarters since 6 April, five days before Mr Bashir was overthrown.
Dozens died on Monday when security forces stormed protesters outside the defence ministry, doctors said.
Many Khartoum residents blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the crackdown. The paramilitary unit - formerly known as the Janjaweed - gained notoriety in the Darfur conflict in western Sudan, which began in 2003.Many Khartoum residents blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the crackdown. The paramilitary unit - formerly known as the Janjaweed - gained notoriety in the Darfur conflict in western Sudan, which began in 2003.
Sudan's old politics re-emergeSudan's old politics re-emerge
Sudan's military has faced international condemnation for its attack, but there were signs it could have happened. Sudan's military has faced international condemnation for its attack, but there were signs it could have happened. The country has been driven backwards by a military elite intent on holding on to power.
The country has been driven backwards by a military elite intent on holding on to power. The TMC has scrapped agreements reached with the opposition Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), saying this will speed up the transition to democratic elections. That plan is likely a fiction.
The Transitional Military Council has scrapped agreements reached with the opposition Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), saying this will speed up the transition to democratic elections. That plan is likely a fiction. The military also enjoys another advantage: in an age of international division, the notion of an "international community" pressuring the regime is fantasy. Sudan's crisis has exposed the reality of international politics: that force can have its way, without consequence, if the killers and torturers represent a valuable asset to other powers.
The military also enjoys another advantage: in an age of international division, the notion of an "international community" pressuring the regime is fantasy. It is impossible to say whether the FFC can come back as a street-driven force. What will not change, in fact what has been deepened, is the alienation of people from their rulers.
Sudan's crisis has exposed the reality of international politics: that force can have its way, without consequence, if the killers and torturers represent a valuable asset to other powers. Read more from Fergal
It is impossible to say whether the FFC can come back as a street-driven force.
What will not change, in fact what has been deepened, is the alienation of people from their rulers.
Read more from Fergal Keane
The protesters had called for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr, marked on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, to be celebrated in the streets, as a gesture of defiance against the military.The protesters had called for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr, marked on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, to be celebrated in the streets, as a gesture of defiance against the military.
On Tuesday, however, much of Khartoum seemed to be under lockdown. Video shot on mobile phones showed columns of troops advancing along the streets, removing barricades and firing into the air.On Tuesday, however, much of Khartoum seemed to be under lockdown. Video shot on mobile phones showed columns of troops advancing along the streets, removing barricades and firing into the air.
Flights into Khartoum have also been disrupted.
Large numbers of heavily armed troops were also reported on the streets of Omdurman, Sudan's second-largest city, just across the River Nile from Khartoum.Large numbers of heavily armed troops were also reported on the streets of Omdurman, Sudan's second-largest city, just across the River Nile from Khartoum.
A woman, identified only as Sulaima, told the BBC that troops from the Rapid Support Forces were "all over Khartoum".A woman, identified only as Sulaima, told the BBC that troops from the Rapid Support Forces were "all over Khartoum".
"They're surrounding neighbourhoods, they're threatening people. They're also using live ammunition. They're everywhere. We're not feeling safe and we don't have trust in the security forces. It's complete chaos.""They're surrounding neighbourhoods, they're threatening people. They're also using live ammunition. They're everywhere. We're not feeling safe and we don't have trust in the security forces. It's complete chaos."
Flights into Khartoum have also been disrupted. Earlier, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the TMC head, said on state television the council had decided to "stop negotiating" with the protesters and "cancel" all previous agreements, and that an election would be held in nine months.
The US, the UK and Norway expressed "serious concern" over the announcement, and called for "an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government".
What happened on Monday?What happened on Monday?
The security services moved on the main protest site early on Monday. Heavy gunfire could be heard in amateur video footage from the scene. The security services moved on the main protest site early on Monday and, according to activists, forces also surrounded a hospital in Khartoum and opened fire at another.
According to activists, the security forces also surrounded a hospital in Khartoum and opened fire at another. In a statement read on national television, the military council said the operation had targeted "trouble makers and petty criminals" and that they were dedicated to protecting civilians.
The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, which is close to the protesters, said 30 people - including an eight-year-old child - had been killed. It said that the number was likely to rise as not all casualties had been accounted for. Hundreds of people had been injured, it added.
The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which is spearheading the nationwide protests, responded by calling for a campaign of "sweeping civil disobedience to topple the treacherous and killer military council".The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which is spearheading the nationwide protests, responded by calling for a campaign of "sweeping civil disobedience to topple the treacherous and killer military council".
In a statement read on national television, the military council expressed its "sorrow for the way events escalated", saying the operation had targeted "trouble makers and petty criminals" .
The military, the statement added, was dedicated to protecting civilians.
Road to transitionRoad to transition
The council's head, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said on state television that the body had decided to "stop negotiating" with the protesters, and to "cancel what had been agreed upon".
An election in nine months would take place under "regional and international supervision", he added.
The crackdown prompted condemnation from the US, UK and other countries. The US said it was a "brutal attack".
Speaking on BBC's Newsday, the analyst and former British ambassador to Sudan, Rosalind Marsden, said the snap election would "simply pave the way for much of the old regime to come back into power".Speaking on BBC's Newsday, the analyst and former British ambassador to Sudan, Rosalind Marsden, said the snap election would "simply pave the way for much of the old regime to come back into power".
"There's a real risk of violence continuing," she said."There's a real risk of violence continuing," she said.
The UN urged the Sudanese authorities to facilitate an independent investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.The UN urged the Sudanese authorities to facilitate an independent investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.
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