Thousands protest against Bashir in Sudanese capital

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM (AA) - Thousands of Sudanese staged a mass protest in the capital Khartoum on Monday amid calls for President Omar al-Bashir to step down over deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

Security forces used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators in downtown Khartoum, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter at the scene.

“Freedom, peace and justice” chanted the protesters as they called on the Sudanese president, who has been in power since 1989, to step down.

Three demonstrators were reportedly injured during the protest, according to eyewitnesses.

Demonstrations have rocked several Sudanese states over the past two weeks over rampant inflation and shortage of basic commodities.

On Sunday, al-Bashir said that Sudan will get through the current crisis.

“We will get through the crisis despite attempts by some to make Sudan kneel,” he said during a meeting with police commanders in Khartoum, without identifying to whom he was referring.

“Security is an expensive commodity and we will not be negligent in [protecting] the security of citizens and facilities,” al-Bashir said, adding that “the aim is not to kill citizens.”

Sudanese authorities say at least 19 people have been killed in street demonstrations that swept several Sudanese states against rising prices and shortages of basic commodities earlier this month.

Opposition groups, for their part, say the death toll is closer to 40.

Sudanese authorities have announced a state of emergency and curfew in a number of provinces over the protests, with government officials accusing Israel of plotting with rebel groups to cause violence in the country.

A nation of 40 million, 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.