UPDATE-5 protesters shot dead in Sudan: Medics

By Mohammed Amin

ADDS FURTHER DETAILS

KHARTOUM (AA) – Five students were killed in protests in central Sudan on Monday, according to an opposition-linked doctors’ committee.

In a statement, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said snipers opened fire on a protest staged by school students in the city of El-Obeid in the North Kordofan state.

Several people were reportedly injured in the violence.

The identity of the shooters remains unclear.

Monday's protest was part of rallies staged by demonstrators to pressure the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) to hand over power to a civilian administration.

Later, violent protests broke out in the city of Bahari in protest of the killing of the students.

According to eyewitnesses, protesters blocked main roads in Bahari and set fire on tires.

Hundreds of angry protesters also took to the streets, according to the witnesses.

A curfew was declared by acting North Kordofan Governor Al-Sadiq Al-Tayeb Abdullah to be imposed from Monday evening until "further notice" in the state's cities of El-Obeid, Um Rawaba, Ar-Rahad and Barah.

The security committee of the same state also decided to suspend all schools’ classes in the state "to protect the lives of students and citizens until further notice," according to the committee’s statement.

Sudan has remained in turmoil since April when the military ousted long-serving President Omar al-Bashir after months of protests against his 30-year rule.