News / Sudan

Protesters raise pressure on Bashir to step down as unrest continues

Saturday, 12 January 2019 11:26 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 13 January 2019 6:58 AM ]

Sudanese people rally along the street during protests after Friday prayers in Khartoum, Sudan January 11, 2019. (Photo by Reuters)

Sudanese riot police have fired tear gas at angry protesters who called for an end to President Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year old rule over the county.

Police on Friday used rubber bullets, tear gas, and live ammunition to disperse protesters who were peacefully protesting in the capital Khartoum on Friday.

Hundreds of protesters emerged from a mosque in the Jabra district of southern Khartoum after midday prayers, calling for “the fall of the regime."

At least three people were killed and several others injured in protests earlier on Thursday, after police opened fire on them, according to Sudan's top human rights body.

Sudan’s National Human Rights Commission condemned on Friday the killing "by bullets" of protesters, calling upon the government to investigate the use of lethal force and bring the criminals to court.

"We condemn using bullets against citizens," said the commission in a statement. "We are also deeply sorry about the killing of citizens by bullets."

Sudanese protesters run away from tear gas smokes during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum, on December 31, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

This was the first time a state body acknowledged that live ammunition had been used against protesters, since a wave of protests started last month over price hikes.

A group of doctors from the main hospital in Khartoum said separately that police had fired tear gas at the facility and there was also "shooting inside the hospital.”

Images on social media also show riot police entered the hospital and shot live bullets at people. Videos showed tear gas billowing in rooms in at least two hospitals.

PressTV-Bashir laments Israeli ties advice as unrest continues

Fresh anti-government protests have hit Sudan, with President Omar al-Bashir lamenting that he had been advised to normalize ties with Israel in order to ensure stability in his country.

Demonstrations have quickly rocked cities across the country and turned into demands for Bashir’s resignation, after he talked about an alleged improvement of ties with Israel under the pretext that it would help stabilize Sudan.

Sudan has forged close relations with Saudi Arabia in recent years, reportedly sending troops to Yemen to help the kingdom's invasion of the impoverished nation.

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