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Sudan protests amid anger over lifting of fuel subsidies | Sudan protests amid anger over lifting of fuel subsidies |
(35 minutes later) | |
Clashes have continued into the night in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, with police firing tear gas at protesters angry at the lifting of fuel subsidies. | Clashes have continued into the night in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, with police firing tear gas at protesters angry at the lifting of fuel subsidies. |
Eyewitnesses said demonstrators set a university building and several petrol stations on fire and blocked roads. | Eyewitnesses said demonstrators set a university building and several petrol stations on fire and blocked roads. |
At least six deaths have occurred since rioting broke out on Monday when the government lifted fuel subsidies in order to raise revenues. | |
Sudan's economy has been in trouble since South Sudan ceded in 2011. | Sudan's economy has been in trouble since South Sudan ceded in 2011. |
Correspondents say the latest austerity measures have almost doubled fuel prices and hit the poor hardest. | Correspondents say the latest austerity measures have almost doubled fuel prices and hit the poor hardest. |
Access to the internet has also reportedly been cut but it is not clear why. | Access to the internet has also reportedly been cut but it is not clear why. |
In a statement released in Arabic, the US embassy in Khartoum called for calm. | In a statement released in Arabic, the US embassy in Khartoum called for calm. |
"We call on all sides not to resort to force and to respect civil liberties and the right to peaceful assembly," the statement said. | "We call on all sides not to resort to force and to respect civil liberties and the right to peaceful assembly," the statement said. |
The embassy said it had received "regrettable reports of serious injuries and attacks on property during demonstrations which turned violent". | The embassy said it had received "regrettable reports of serious injuries and attacks on property during demonstrations which turned violent". |
Hotdogs and pizza | Hotdogs and pizza |
The changes reportedly affected the price of cooking oil as well as petrol and diesel. | The changes reportedly affected the price of cooking oil as well as petrol and diesel. |
The demonstrations began south of Khartoum and have now spread to the capital and other cities, with protesters calling for regime change. | The demonstrations began south of Khartoum and have now spread to the capital and other cities, with protesters calling for regime change. |
Officials have condemned the protests as acts of sabotage, describing them as "premeditated", according to the Associated Press. | Officials have condemned the protests as acts of sabotage, describing them as "premeditated", according to the Associated Press. |
Politicians, including President Omar al-Bashir, have defended the austerity drive, saying the only alternative would be economic collapse, local media said. | Politicians, including President Omar al-Bashir, have defended the austerity drive, saying the only alternative would be economic collapse, local media said. |
They argued that Sudanese people had been spoiled by years of prosperity, thanks to the current government. | They argued that Sudanese people had been spoiled by years of prosperity, thanks to the current government. |
The Sudan Tribune last week quoted President Omar al-Bashir as saying that no-one knew what a hotdog was before his rule, while a minister said they were responsible for the introduction of pizza to the country. | The Sudan Tribune last week quoted President Omar al-Bashir as saying that no-one knew what a hotdog was before his rule, while a minister said they were responsible for the introduction of pizza to the country. |
Sudan had experienced an oil-fuelled economic boom until South Sudan became independent, taking 75% of its oil reserves. | Sudan had experienced an oil-fuelled economic boom until South Sudan became independent, taking 75% of its oil reserves. |
The government reduced some fuel subsidies in July 2012, prompting several weeks of protests and a security crackdown. | The government reduced some fuel subsidies in July 2012, prompting several weeks of protests and a security crackdown. |
However the country has so far avoided the unrest characteristic of recent uprisings in Arab countries such as neighbouring Egypt. | However the country has so far avoided the unrest characteristic of recent uprisings in Arab countries such as neighbouring Egypt. |