Sudanese anti-coup protesters barricade streets in Khartoum

Gulf Today Report

Sudanese anti-coup protesters on Sunday manned barricades in Khartoum a day after a deadly crackdown on mass rallies, as a defiant civil disobedience campaign against the military takeover entered its seventh day.

Tens of thousands turned out across the country for Saturday's demonstrations, marching against the army's October 25 power grab, when top General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency and detained Sudan's civilian leadership.

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In another reports Sudanese security forces on Saturday killed three protesters during mass anti-coup rallies, medics said, despite warnings from global powers who had urged the military to exercise restraint.

Protesters gesture and shout slogans against the military's recent seizure of power in the Khartoum, Sudan. Reuters

The UN secretary general urged Sudan's generals on Sunday to reverse their takeover of the country, a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the largest pro-democracy protest since last week's coup.

Antonio Guterres said the generals should "take heed” of Saturday’s protests. "Time to go back to the legitimate constitutional arrangements,” he said in a tweet.

The move sparked a chorus of international condemnation, with world powers demanding a swift return to civilian rule and calls for the military to show "restraint" against protesters.

At least three people were shot dead and more than 100 people wounded during Saturday's demonstrations, according to medics, who reported those killed had bullet wounds in their head, chest or stomach. It takes the death toll since protests began to at least 11.

Protesters carry a banner and shout slogans against the Sudanese military's recent seizure of power in Khartoum. Reuters

Police forces denied the killings, or using live bullets. "No, no, to military rule," protesters carrying Sudanese flags chanted as they marched around the capital and other cities, as forces fired tear gas to break them up.

More than 100 people were also wounded on Saturday, some suffering breathing difficulties from tear gas, the independent Central Committee of Sudan's Doctors said.

Sudan had been ruled since August 2019 by a joint civilian-military council, alongside Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's government, as part of the now derailed transition to full civilian rule.

The UN secretary general urged Sudan's generals to reverse their takeover of the country on Sunday.

UN chief was referring to a power-sharing deal that established joint military-civilian rule following the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019.

Guterres expressed concern about violence against protesters on Saturday, calling for perpetrators to be held accountable.