Sudan police disperse mass protest near Bashir’s palace

KHARTOUM (AA) – Sudanese security forces dispersed a mass protest near the presidential palace in capital Khartoum on Tuesday, according to eyewitnesses.

Thousands of protesters marched from Al-Qasr street to the presidency headquarters demanding President Omar al-Bashir to step down from power, the witnesses said.

Police used teargas to disperse the demonstrators.

Dozens of protesters were reportedly arrested.

On Monday, al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989, pledged to carry out economic reforms amid street protests over price hikes and a shortage of basic commodities.

At least eight people have been reportedly killed since the protests began in several Sudanese states last week.

A nation of 40 million people, Sudan has struggled to recover from the loss of three quarters of its oil output – its main source of foreign currency – when South Sudan seceded in 2011.