UPDATE 2 - Sudan protesters rally against military rule

UPDATES WITH PROTESTERS HEADING TOWARDS REPUBLICAN PALACE IN KHARTOUM

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Sudanese protesters staged mass rallies in the capital Khartoum and other states on Sunday to demand the ruling military council to hand over power to civilian authorities.

Waving the national flag, demonstrators chanted slogans against the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and waved banners condemning violence against protesters, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.

Protesters also chanted calls for an investigation into the dispersal of a weeks-long protest camp near the army headquarters earlier this month, which left scores dead.

Rallies were also reported in the cities of Gadaref, Kassala, Khashm Algirba and Halfa in eastern Sudan, Kareema and Atbara in River Nile state, El-Obied in North Kordofan and Edamazine in Blue Nile state.

One protester was reportedly killed in Atbara, 200 kilometers north of Khartoum, when security forces used teargas and live ammunition to disperse the rallies, a medical source told Anadolu Agency.

“A protester was shot dead during the protests in Atbara,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

He said several protesters were also injured in the rallies.

Thousands of Sudanese protesters are heading towards the Republican Palace in the capital Khartoum, eyewitnesses confirmed.

In a statement issued after the beginning of demonstrations, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) has urged the protesters to move towards the Republican Palace and to stay there until the demands have been met.

In the meantime, witnesses told Anadolu Agency that the forces have opened fire against the protesters who tried to cross the White Nile bridge towards the Palace in Khartoum city.

Sudan has been in turmoil since Sudan’s military establishment deposed long-serving President Omar al-Bashir early April following months of popular demonstrations against his 30-year rule.