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Sudan police 'fire tear gas' at protesters in Khartoum | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Sudanese police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters demanding an end to military rule in the capital Khartoum, eyewitnesses say. | |
Thousands of protesters were chanting "Civilian rule" when police dispersed crowds in several parts of the city, the witnesses told AFP news agency. | |
On Saturday, paramilitary forces broke up a news conference called by organisers of the protest. | |
The military ousted President Omar al-Bashir in April. | |
It followed a popular uprising against his rule. Mr Bashir seized power in a coup on 30 June 1989. | |
Pro-democracy activists had called for a "million-strong" march on Sunday - the first mass demonstration planned since dozens were killed when the military opened fire on pro-democracy protesters on 3 June. | |
Tens of thousands of people protested in cities and towns across Sudan to demand the transfer of power to a civilian-led administration. | |
In Khartoum, police fired tear gas at crowds in the northern district of Bari and in Mamura and Arkweit in the east, AFP quoted witnesses as saying. | |
Shops were shut in areas where protests were taking place. | |
A heavy contingent of security forces, including the much-feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was deployed ahead of the protest. | |
Protest leader Ahmed al-Rabie told AFP that the RSF had broken up a media briefing called by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) in Khartoum on Saturday. | |
"Before we could start the press conference, three vehicles from RSF, full of armed men, came to our building and told us not to hold the press conference," he said. | "Before we could start the press conference, three vehicles from RSF, full of armed men, came to our building and told us not to hold the press conference," he said. |
Everyone in the building was ordered to leave, Mr al-Rabie said. | Everyone in the building was ordered to leave, Mr al-Rabie said. |
He told Reuters news agency that the raid was "a violation of liberties that is even worse than the regime of the former president". | He told Reuters news agency that the raid was "a violation of liberties that is even worse than the regime of the former president". |
The military said it would hold the opposition responsible for any violence or loss of life in the protests. | The military said it would hold the opposition responsible for any violence or loss of life in the protests. |
Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, warned of "vandals" and a "concealed agenda" that might take advantage of the demonstrations. | Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, warned of "vandals" and a "concealed agenda" that might take advantage of the demonstrations. |
Talks between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition collapsed after 3 June and have not resumed despite mediation by the African Union (AU) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. | Talks between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition collapsed after 3 June and have not resumed despite mediation by the African Union (AU) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. |
On Friday, the SPA said two leading members of the opposition had been detained and urged "the international community to demand their immediate release". | On Friday, the SPA said two leading members of the opposition had been detained and urged "the international community to demand their immediate release". |