Security forces have fired tear gas at Sudanese protesters – TV Reuters

KHARTUM (Reuters) – Security forces fired tear gas at anti-military protesters in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, according to television footage showing protesters marching on the presidential palace in the 12th round of major protests since the October 25 coup.

Internet and mobile services were reportedly disrupted on Sunday in the Sudanese capital Khartoum ahead of planned protests against military rule, Reuters witnesses said.

All bridges linking Khartoum directly were also closed, a Reuters witness said.

Sunday’s protests come after six people were killed and hundreds injured in protests against state military authority on Thursday. The death toll since the crackdown on security forces began in October is now 54, according to the Sudanese Central Medical Commission.

The military seized power in an October 25 coup that ended its deal with civilian political forces. This agreement, agreed in 2019, was to pave the way for a transitional government and, finally, to hold elections after the fall of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir.

Protests against the military have continued even after Abdallah Hamdo resigned as prime minister last month.

Demonstrators demanded that the military not play any role in the government during the transition to free elections.

Some people managed to post images of protests in other cities on social media, including Ad-Damazin and Port Sudan.

Al Hadath TV was told by an adviser to military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan that the military would not allow anyone to plunge the country into chaos and that the ongoing protests were “physical, psychological and mental outpouring for the country” and “should not be”. to reach a political solution ”.

In recent times when communications have been disrupted, sources in telecommunications companies have told Reuters that authorities are demanding that providers cut off their services. Officials were unable to arrive immediately for comment on Sunday.

In a televised speech on Friday, Burhan said power clashes and the loss of life “should all use the voice of reason.”

“The only way to rule is through popular order through elections,” Burhan said.

The Sudanese Sovereign Council, led by Burhan, denounced the violence along with Thursday’s protests on Friday, adding that it had ordered the authorities not to repeat all legal and military measures and “no one will go unpunished.”

Last week, the city council reinstated its powers of arrest and detention to the intelligence service.