Sudan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-military-rulers-say-several-coup-attempts-thwarted-226983">ruling military council</a> Thursday for the first time admitted it dispersed a Khartoum sit-in, which left dozens dead, as US and African diplomats stepped up efforts for a solution to the country's political crisis.

Protesters had staged the weeks-long sit-in outside army headquarters in Khartoum, first calling for the ouster of veteran leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-charges-ousted-leader-omar-al-bashir-with-corruption-state-media-226978">Omar al-Bashir</a> then for the military council that took his place to hand power to a civilian administration.

But on June 3, days after talks between protest leaders and the military collapsed, armed men in military fatigues broke up the camp in an operation that doctors said left 120 people dead. The health ministry has put the death toll for that day at 61 nationwide.

The military council had "decided to disperse the sit-in", said spokesman Shamseddine Kabbashi.

"We ordered the commanders to come up with a plan to disperse this sit-in. They made a plan and implemented it ... but we regret that some mistakes happened."

Later at the end of the conference Kabbashi said that the plan was to clear a nearby area called Colombia, usually inhabited by drug peddlers, but then "we regret what happened".

He said the findings of an investigation into the incident would be released on Saturday.

Video: Deadly Violence in Sudan

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Kabbashi also claimed "more than one coup attempt had been planned" against the military council but were prevented in recent days, with "two groups of officers" taken into custody.

Kabbashi's comments came after protesters, who had staged a nationwide civil disobedience movement to demand civilian rule, agreed Tuesday to end the campaign and resume talks with the generals.

Traffic jams have returned to downtown Khartoum and some shops in the capital's famous gold market began to reopen Thursday as more residents and office employees ventured out.

Fewer troops and members of the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, accused by protesters and rights groups of leading the crackdown, were on the streets in downtown Khartoum, according to an AFP correspondent who toured parts of the capital.

But they were deployed in force in the northern district of Bahari, a bastion of protests against the military council and Bashir, who on Thursday was charged with corruption.&nbsp;

"Today is my first day to work after the campaign ended but I'm not in the mood to work," said Suheir Hassan, an employee at a government office.

"On my way I passed by the sit-in area and remembered that all those voices who used to chant revolutionary slogans have now disappeared."

US efforts for solution

Following Ethiopian mediation efforts, Washington's newly appointed special envoy to Sudan, Donald Booth, and the assistant secretary of state for Africa, Tibor Nagy, met military council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Thursday.

Burhan told the envoys that Sudan and its people had a positive view of US efforts to reach a political settlement, according to a statement released by the military council.

Washington said Booth had been named to help craft a "peaceful solution" to the crisis that has rocked the northeast African country.

The Alliance for Freedom and Change umbrella protest movement said its leaders had briefed the two US officials on Wednesday on the need for a transparent investigation into the June 3 killings.

They also called for the withdrawal of "militias" from the streets in Khartoum and other towns, the lifting of an internet blockade and the establishment of a civilian administration, it said in a statement.

The African Union, which suspended Sudan following the crackdown, said global efforts were being made to resolve the crisis.

The AU's special envoy to Sudan, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, said an international team of diplomats was working to resolve the crisis and that separate discussions with the two sides were "moving forward".

Video: Human rights violation in Sudan

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Demand for guarantees

The US diplomats were also expected to meet with top envoys from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in Khartoum.&nbsp;

Experts say the three key regional powers back the generals.

Days after Bashir's overthrow in April, Saudi Arabia and the UAE offered a $3-billion aid package to Khartoum, including a $500-million cash injection into the central bank to help support the Sudanese pound, which has plunged against the dollar.

The country's worsening economic crisis was one initial trigger for protests against Bashir's three-decade rule.

On Thursday, prosecutors charged him with corruption and "possessing foreign funds, acquiring suspect and illegal wealth" and putting in place a state of emergency, state media reported.

Last month, Sudan's public prosecutor ordered the questioning of Bashir, who is being held in Khartoum's Kober prison, over money-laundering and "financing terrorism".

Talks between the protest leaders and generals collapsed in mid-May over the question of who should lead a new governing body -- a civilian or a soldier.

Relations worsened following the crackdown, with protest leaders now insisting any agreement reached with the military rulers must be backed by "regional and international" guarantees.

Sudan's ruling military council Thursday for the first time admitted it dispersed a Khartoum sit-in, which left dozens dead, as US and African diplomats stepped up efforts for a solution to the country's political crisis.

Sudan's ruling military council Thursday for the first time admitted it dispersed a Khartoum sit-in, which left dozens dead, as US and African diplomats stepped up efforts for a solution to the country's political crisis. Protesters had staged the weeks-long sit-in outside army headquarters in Khartoum, first calling for the ouster of veteran leader Omar al-Bashir then for the military council that took his place to hand power to a civilian administration. But on June 3, days after talks between protest leaders and the military collapsed, armed men in military fatigues broke up the camp in an operation that doctors said left 120 people dead. The health ministry has put the death toll for that day at 61 nationwide. The military council had "decided to disperse the sit-in", said spokesman Shamseddine Kabbashi. "We ordered the commanders to come up with a plan to disperse this sit-in. They made a plan and implemented it ... but we regret that some mistakes happened." Later at the end of the conference Kabbashi said that the plan was to clear a nearby area called Colombia, usually inhabited by drug peddlers, but then "we regret what happened". He said the findings of an investigation into the incident would be released on Saturday. Video: Deadly Violence in Sudan × Kabbashi also claimed "more than one coup attempt had been planned" against the military council but were prevented in recent days, with "two groups of officers" taken into custody. Kabbashi's comments came after protesters, who had staged a nationwide civil disobedience movement to demand civilian rule, agreed Tuesday to end the campaign and resume talks with the generals. Traffic jams have returned to downtown Khartoum and some shops in the capital's famous gold market began to reopen Thursday as more residents and office employees ventured out. Fewer troops and members of the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, accused by protesters and rights groups of leading the crackdown, were on the streets in downtown Khartoum, according to an AFP correspondent who toured parts of the capital. But they were deployed in force in the northern district of Bahari, a bastion of protests against the military council and Bashir, who on Thursday was charged with corruption. "Today is my first day to work after the campaign ended but I'm not in the mood to work," said Suheir Hassan, an employee at a government office. "On my way I passed by the sit-in area and remembered that all those voices who used to chant revolutionary slogans have now disappeared." US efforts for solution Following Ethiopian mediation efforts, Washington's newly appointed special envoy to Sudan, Donald Booth, and the assistant secretary of state for Africa, Tibor Nagy, met military council chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Thursday. Burhan told the envoys that Sudan and its people had a positive view of US efforts to reach a political settlement, according to a statement released by the military council. Washington said Booth had been named to help craft a "peaceful solution" to the crisis that has rocked the northeast African country. The Alliance for Freedom and Change umbrella protest movement said its leaders had briefed the two US officials on Wednesday on the need for a transparent investigation into the June 3 killings. They also called for the withdrawal of "militias" from the streets in Khartoum and other towns, the lifting of an internet blockade and the establishment of a civilian administration, it said in a statement. The African Union, which suspended Sudan following the crackdown, said global efforts were being made to resolve the crisis. The AU's special envoy to Sudan, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, said an international team of diplomats was working to resolve the crisis and that separate discussions with the two sides were "moving forward". Video: Human rights violation in Sudan × Demand for guarantees The US diplomats were also expected to meet with top envoys from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in Khartoum. Experts say the three key regional powers back the generals. Days after Bashir's overthrow in April, Saudi Arabia and the UAE offered a $3-billion aid package to Khartoum, including a $500-million cash injection into the central bank to help support the Sudanese pound, which has plunged against the dollar. The country's worsening economic crisis was one initial trigger for protests against Bashir's three-decade rule. On Thursday, prosecutors charged him with corruption and "possessing foreign funds, acquiring suspect and illegal wealth" and putting in place a state of emergency, state media reported. Last month, Sudan's public prosecutor ordered the questioning of Bashir, who is being held in Khartoum's Kober prison, over money-laundering and "financing terrorism". Talks between the protest leaders and generals collapsed in mid-May over the question of who should lead a new governing body -- a civilian or a soldier. Relations worsened following the crackdown, with protest leaders now insisting any agreement reached with the military rulers must be backed by "regional and international" guarantees.

Sudan military admits dispersing sit-in, says 'mistakes happened'

Sudan's military rulers said on Thursday they had thwarted several coup attempts and that some officers had been arrested over the deadly dispersal of protesters at a sit-in in Khartoum earlier this month.

Two different groups of people suspected of involvement in the attempted coups had been arrested, the Transitional Military Council`s spokesman said. One group consisted of five individuals while the other had more than 12 members, he said.

The council itself took power in a coup on April 11 when&nbsp;military officials ousted and detained former President Omar al-Bashir after months of protests against his 30-year autocratic rule.&nbsp;

An area outside the defence ministry in Khartoum became the focal point of fresh protests as demonstrators demanded that the military hand over power to civilians.

Stalled talks between the council and an alliance of opposition groups over who should control a transition towards elections then collapsed after security forces crushed the protest sit-in on June 3.

Opposition-linked medics have said 118 people were killed in the crackdown while the military council has put the toll at 61.

The council said Thursday that some officers had been arrested in connection with the crackdown. It did not elaborate, but the results of an investigation into the matter would be announced on Saturday, said Shams El Din Kabbashi, the council spokesman.&nbsp;

Earlier, Tibor Nagy, the US assistant secretary of state for Africa, met with the head of the council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Khartoum. Veteran diplomat Donald Booth, who was appointed US&nbsp;envoy to Sudan on Wednesday, was also present.

"Amb Booth and I pressed TMC Chairman Gen Burhan to take steps to allow successful talks to resume: Stop attacks on civilians; Withdraw military from Khartoum; Allow for an independent investigation of the horrible June 3 attack on the peaceful sit-in and other recent violence; And stop repression of free speech and the internet," Nagy said on Twitter.&nbsp;

Speaking at a press conference, council spokesman Kabbashi said the United States had given it several pieces of advice.

"But they are not orders," he said, while also rejecting the idea of an international investigation.

"We do not accept it because we are a sovereign state and we have our judicial apparatus."

Human rights groups have criticised an ongoing internet shutdown in Sudan. In an apparent response to the criticism, Kabbashi said social media posed a threat to the country. "We do not allow that at the moment," he said.&nbsp;

After meeting Nagy on Wednesday, the main opposition alliance said it would only participate in indirect talks and it would impose other conditions.

The bloodshed in Sudan has prompted concern from world powers including the United States, which sanctioned Sudan under Bashir over its alleged support for militant groups and the civil war in Darfur.&nbsp;

Trade sanctions were lifted in 2017 but Sudan is still on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, which prevents it from accessing badly needed funding from international lenders. Washington has previously said it will not take Sudan off the list while the military remains in power.&nbsp;

Stability in the nation of 40 million is crucial for a volatile region struggling with conflict and insurgencies from the Horn of Africa to Egypt and Libya. 
The military council has been bolstered by support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which between them have offered $3 billion in aid.

Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Khartoum to mediate between the military council and the opposition. Kabbashi said Abiy had proposed that negotiations between the two parties move to Addis Ababa, but the council rejected the proposal.&nbsp;

Sudan`s state prosecutor`s office said early on Thursday that Bashir had been charged with corruption after the completion of an investigation. The charges were related to laws on "suspected illicit wealth and emergency orders," the office said, without giving more details.

Bashir had already been charged in May with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters. Prosecutors had also ordered his interrogation on suspicion of money laundering and financing terrorism.

It has not been possible to get a comment from Bashir since his removal.

Sudan's military rulers said on Thursday they had thwarted several coup attempts and that some officers had been arrested over the deadly dispersal of protesters at a sit-in in Khartoum earlier this month.

Sudan's military rulers said on Thursday they had thwarted several coup attempts and that some officers had been arrested over the deadly dispersal of protesters at a sit-in in Khartoum earlier this month. Two different groups of people suspected of involvement in the attempted coups had been arrested, the Transitional Military Council`s spokesman said. One group consisted of five individuals while the other had more than 12 members, he said. The council itself took power in a coup on April 11 when military officials ousted and detained former President Omar al-Bashir after months of protests against his 30-year autocratic rule. An area outside the defence ministry in Khartoum became the focal point of fresh protests as demonstrators demanded that the military hand over power to civilians. Stalled talks between the council and an alliance of opposition groups over who should control a transition towards elections then collapsed after security forces crushed the protest sit-in on June 3. Opposition-linked medics have said 118 people were killed in the crackdown while the military council has put the toll at 61. The council said Thursday that some officers had been arrested in connection with the crackdown. It did not elaborate, but the results of an investigation into the matter would be announced on Saturday, said Shams El Din Kabbashi, the council spokesman. Earlier, Tibor Nagy, the US assistant secretary of state for Africa, met with the head of the council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Khartoum. Veteran diplomat Donald Booth, who was appointed US envoy to Sudan on Wednesday, was also present. "Amb Booth and I pressed TMC Chairman Gen Burhan to take steps to allow successful talks to resume: Stop attacks on civilians; Withdraw military from Khartoum; Allow for an independent investigation of the horrible June 3 attack on the peaceful sit-in and other recent violence; And stop repression of free speech and the internet," Nagy said on Twitter. Speaking at a press conference, council spokesman Kabbashi said the United States had given it several pieces of advice. "But they are not orders," he said, while also rejecting the idea of an international investigation. "We do not accept it because we are a sovereign state and we have our judicial apparatus." Human rights groups have criticised an ongoing internet shutdown in Sudan. In an apparent response to the criticism, Kabbashi said social media posed a threat to the country. "We do not allow that at the moment," he said. After meeting Nagy on Wednesday, the main opposition alliance said it would only participate in indirect talks and it would impose other conditions. The bloodshed in Sudan has prompted concern from world powers including the United States, which sanctioned Sudan under Bashir over its alleged support for militant groups and the civil war in Darfur. Trade sanctions were lifted in 2017 but Sudan is still on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, which prevents it from accessing badly needed funding from international lenders. Washington has previously said it will not take Sudan off the list while the military remains in power. Stability in the nation of 40 million is crucial for a volatile region struggling with conflict and insurgencies from the Horn of Africa to Egypt and Libya. The military council has been bolstered by support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which between them have offered $3 billion in aid. Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Khartoum to mediate between the military council and the opposition. Kabbashi said Abiy had proposed that negotiations between the two parties move to Addis Ababa, but the council rejected the proposal. Sudan`s state prosecutor`s office said early on Thursday that Bashir had been charged with corruption after the completion of an investigation. The charges were related to laws on "suspected illicit wealth and emergency orders," the office said, without giving more details. Bashir had already been charged in May with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters. Prosecutors had also ordered his interrogation on suspicion of money laundering and financing terrorism. It has not been possible to get a comment from Bashir since his removal.

Sudan's military rulers say several coup attempts thwarted

Sudan's public prosecutor has charged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-sudans-economic-crisis-had-a-role-in-protests-that-toppled-al-bashir-216685">ousted president Omar al-Bashir of corruption</a>, the official SUNA news agency said on Thursday.

The announcement came more than two months after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-army-topples-president-omar-al-bashir-209598">military ousted Bashir</a> on April 11 following months of nationwide protests against his &nbsp;30-year iron-fisted rule.

"The public prosecutor announces the completion of all investigations in the case brought against the deposed president Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir by anti-corruption prosecutors," SUNA said.

An unnamed official was quoted by the agency as saying that Bashir is facing charges including "possessing foreign funds, acquiring suspected and illegal wealth and ordering (the state of) emergency".

In April, Sudan's army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that more than 113 million dollars worth of cash in three currencies had been seized from Bashir's residence.

He said a team of police, army and security agents found seven million euros ($7.8 million), $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds ($105 million) during a search at Bashir's home.&nbsp;

Bashir swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989.&nbsp;

Sudan suffered high rates of corruption under his rule ranking 172 out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Last month, Sudan's public prosecutor ordered the questioning of Bashir over money-laundering and "financing terrorism".

In an effort to quell protests that erupted against his rule in December, Bashir had imposed a nationwide state of emergency on February 22.

In May the prosecutor general said that Bashir had been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-ousted-president-bashir-charged-over-killing-of-protesters-218466">charged over the killings of protesters </a>during the anti-regime demonstrations that led to the end of his rule.

Sudan's public prosecutor has charged ousted president Omar al-Bashir of corruption, the official SUNA news agency said on Thursday. The announcement came more than two months after the military ousted Bashir on April 11 following months of nationwide protests against his 30-year iron-fisted rule.

Sudan's public prosecutor has charged ousted president Omar al-Bashir of corruption, the official SUNA news agency said on Thursday. The announcement came more than two months after the military ousted Bashir on April 11 following months of nationwide protests against his 30-year iron-fisted rule. "The public prosecutor announces the completion of all investigations in the case brought against the deposed president Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir by anti-corruption prosecutors," SUNA said. An unnamed official was quoted by the agency as saying that Bashir is facing charges including "possessing foreign funds, acquiring suspected and illegal wealth and ordering (the state of) emergency". In April, Sudan's army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that more than 113 million dollars worth of cash in three currencies had been seized from Bashir's residence. He said a team of police, army and security agents found seven million euros ($7.8 million), $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds ($105 million) during a search at Bashir's home. Bashir swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989. Sudan suffered high rates of corruption under his rule ranking 172 out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index. Last month, Sudan's public prosecutor ordered the questioning of Bashir over money-laundering and "financing terrorism". In an effort to quell protests that erupted against his rule in December, Bashir had imposed a nationwide state of emergency on February 22. In May the prosecutor general said that Bashir had been charged over the killings of protesters during the anti-regime demonstrations that led to the end of his rule.

Sudan charges ousted leader Omar al-Bashir with corruption: State Media

Sudan's military and Opposition groups have arribed at a truce. Both the sides have agreed to resume talks on the formation of a transitional council. Watch full video to know more.

Sudan military and Opposition groups to resume talks

A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide "civil disobedience" campaign in Sudan. The campaign would run until Sudan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-forces-arrest-protest-leaders-who-met-ethiopia-pm-abiy-ahmed-225443">ruling generals</a> transfer power to a civilian government, the protest group said.

"The civil disobedience movement will begin Sunday and end only when a civilian government announces itself in power on state television," the SPA said in a statement.

"Disobedience is a peaceful act capable of bringing to its knees the most powerful weapons arsenal in the world."

The call by the Sudanese Professionals Association, which first launched protests against longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, came days after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-relocates-staff-from-sudan-death-toll-rises-to-108-224799">bloody crackdown on demonstrators</a> left dozens dead in Khartoum and crushed hopes for a swift democratic transition.&nbsp;

It was still unclear how the campaign would unfold on the streets, especially in Khartoum where all key roads and squares have been deserted since Monday's crackdown.

Led by men in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-army-ruler-cancels-elections-amid-violence-during-sit-in-protest-224030">army</a> fatigues, the raid on the weeks-long sit-in outside the army complex left at least 113 people dead, according to doctors close to the demonstrators.

Watch: Human rights violation in Sudan

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The health ministry says 61 people died nationwide in the crackdown, 52 of them by "live ammunition" in Khartoum.

Witnesses say the assault was led by the feared Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have their origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia, accused of abuses in the Darfur conflict between 2003 and 2004.

The call for "civil disobedience" came a day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-forces-arrest-protest-leaders-who-met-ethiopia-pm-abiy-ahmed-225443">Ethiopian Prime Minister</a> Abiy Ahmed visited Khartoum seeking to revive talks between the generals and protest leaders on the country's transition.

Protest leaders arrested

Sudan's military council seized power in April after ousting Bashir on the back of months-long protests against his three-decade rule.

Since then, it has resisted calls from protesters and Western nations to transfer power to a civilian administration.

Several rounds of talks with the demonstrators finally broke down in mid-May.

In a bid to revive the negotiations, the Ethiopian premier held separate meetings with the two sides in Khartoum on Friday.

"The army, the people and political forces have to act with courage and responsibility by taking quick steps towards a democratic and consensual transitional period," Abiy said in a statement after the meetings.

"The army has to protect the security of the country and its people and political forces have to think about the future of the country."&nbsp;

But three members of an opposition delegation that met the Ethiopian premier were later arrested, their aides said Saturday.

Opposition politician Mohamed Esmat was detained Friday, while Ismail Jalab, a leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), was taken from his home overnight.

"A group of armed men came in vehicles at 3:00 am (0100 GMT) and took away Ismail Jalab... without giving any reason," one of his aides, Rashid Anwar, told AFP.

He said SPLM-N spokesman Mubarak Ardol was also detained.

Esmat and Jalab are both leading members of the Alliance for Freedom and Change, an umbrella of opposition parties and some rebel groups.

The Alliance, of which the SPA is a key member, was the main organiser of mass protests since December that led to Bashir's ouster.

Call for international prober

The arrests threaten to further complicate efforts to reconcile the protest movement and the generals.

Following Monday's brutal crackdown, chances of a quick democratic transition appear remote as protest leaders now insist that talks with the generals can resume only under certain conditions.

"The Transitional Military Council has to admit the crime it committed," Omar al-Digeir, a prominent protest leader told reporters on Friday after meeting Abiy.

He demanded an international probe into "the massacre at the sit-in" and called for all military forces to be removed from streets across the country.

Digeir said the military council should also restore access to the internet and allow public and media freedoms.

Since the crackdown, Khartoum residents have mostly been sheltering indoors and the streets have been deserted.

RSF members and soldiers on Saturday cleared major Khartoum streets of roadblocks put up by protesters.

Demonstrators had used tyres, tree trunks and rocks to erect the makeshift barricades, which the generals had warned would not be tolerated.

RSF chief and deputy head of the military council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has warned he will not tolerate "any chaos".

Some barricades remained in place, witnesses said Saturday, but the protest site at military headquarters was out of bounds.

Troops and RSF paramilitaries surrounded it from all sides to keep demonstrators at bay.

The protest slogans that once rang across Khartoum -- "freedom, peace, justice" and "civilian rule, civilian rule" -- &nbsp;were nowhere to be heard.

A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide "civil disobedience" campaign in Sudan. The campaign would run until Sudan's ruling generals transfer power to a civilian government, the protest group said.

A key protest group on Saturday announced a nationwide "civil disobedience" campaign in Sudan. The campaign would run until Sudan's ruling generals transfer power to a civilian government, the protest group said. "The civil disobedience movement will begin Sunday and end only when a civilian government announces itself in power on state television," the SPA said in a statement. "Disobedience is a peaceful act capable of bringing to its knees the most powerful weapons arsenal in the world." The call by the Sudanese Professionals Association, which first launched protests against longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, came days after a bloody crackdown on demonstrators left dozens dead in Khartoum and crushed hopes for a swift democratic transition. It was still unclear how the campaign would unfold on the streets, especially in Khartoum where all key roads and squares have been deserted since Monday's crackdown. Led by men in army fatigues, the raid on the weeks-long sit-in outside the army complex left at least 113 people dead, according to doctors close to the demonstrators. Watch: Human rights violation in Sudan × The health ministry says 61 people died nationwide in the crackdown, 52 of them by "live ammunition" in Khartoum. Witnesses say the assault was led by the feared Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have their origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia, accused of abuses in the Darfur conflict between 2003 and 2004. The call for "civil disobedience" came a day after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Khartoum seeking to revive talks between the generals and protest leaders on the country's transition. Protest leaders arrested Sudan's military council seized power in April after ousting Bashir on the back of months-long protests against his three-decade rule. Since then, it has resisted calls from protesters and Western nations to transfer power to a civilian administration. Several rounds of talks with the demonstrators finally broke down in mid-May. In a bid to revive the negotiations, the Ethiopian premier held separate meetings with the two sides in Khartoum on Friday. "The army, the people and political forces have to act with courage and responsibility by taking quick steps towards a democratic and consensual transitional period," Abiy said in a statement after the meetings. "The army has to protect the security of the country and its people and political forces have to think about the future of the country." But three members of an opposition delegation that met the Ethiopian premier were later arrested, their aides said Saturday. Opposition politician Mohamed Esmat was detained Friday, while Ismail Jalab, a leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), was taken from his home overnight. "A group of armed men came in vehicles at 3:00 am (0100 GMT) and took away Ismail Jalab... without giving any reason," one of his aides, Rashid Anwar, told AFP. He said SPLM-N spokesman Mubarak Ardol was also detained. Esmat and Jalab are both leading members of the Alliance for Freedom and Change, an umbrella of opposition parties and some rebel groups. The Alliance, of which the SPA is a key member, was the main organiser of mass protests since December that led to Bashir's ouster. Call for international prober The arrests threaten to further complicate efforts to reconcile the protest movement and the generals. Following Monday's brutal crackdown, chances of a quick democratic transition appear remote as protest leaders now insist that talks with the generals can resume only under certain conditions. "The Transitional Military Council has to admit the crime it committed," Omar al-Digeir, a prominent protest leader told reporters on Friday after meeting Abiy. He demanded an international probe into "the massacre at the sit-in" and called for all military forces to be removed from streets across the country. Digeir said the military council should also restore access to the internet and allow public and media freedoms. Since the crackdown, Khartoum residents have mostly been sheltering indoors and the streets have been deserted. RSF members and soldiers on Saturday cleared major Khartoum streets of roadblocks put up by protesters. Demonstrators had used tyres, tree trunks and rocks to erect the makeshift barricades, which the generals had warned would not be tolerated. RSF chief and deputy head of the military council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has warned he will not tolerate "any chaos". Some barricades remained in place, witnesses said Saturday, but the protest site at military headquarters was out of bounds. Troops and RSF paramilitaries surrounded it from all sides to keep demonstrators at bay. The protest slogans that once rang across Khartoum -- "freedom, peace, justice" and "civilian rule, civilian rule" -- were nowhere to be heard.

Sudan protest group calls nationwide 'civil disobedience'

The United Nations is moving some of its staff from Sudan, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-opposition-rejects-armys-offer-of-talks-death-toll-hits-101-224759">death toll from a crackdown on protesters soared to more than 100</a>.

"We are temporarily relocating non-programme-critical UN staff, while all UN operations continue in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/sudan-can-avoid-past-mistakes-by-drawing-lessons-from-its-history-210866">Sudan</a>," said UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko.

No details were provided on the number of staffers leaving Khartoum, where there is a large UN presence of 27 entities, mostly UN aid agencies.

The United Nations also runs a peacekeeping mission in Darfur with the African Union, where about 7,200 troops and police are deployed.

Sudan has been engulfed in turmoil since security forces on Monday violently broke up a weeks-long sit-in by protesters demanding an end to military rule.

The Central Committee for Sudanese Doctors close to the protest movement said on Wednesday that at least 108 people had been killed in the crackdown.

Forty bodies have been recovered from the Nile river, they said.

Watch: Unrest In Sudan Continues: Military Council Calls For Snap Polls

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A military council has ruled the country since the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir on April 11, following months of protests against his three-decade authoritarian rule.

Army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced Tuesday that he was scrapping a plan for a three-year transition period and would hold elections within nine months.

Western powers have warned that snap elections will crush hopes for a democratic transition in Sudan and have called for a return to negotiations.

The United Nations is moving some of its staff from Sudan, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the death toll from a crackdown on protesters soared to more than 100.

The United Nations is moving some of its staff from Sudan, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, as the death toll from a crackdown on protesters soared to more than 100. "We are temporarily relocating non-programme-critical UN staff, while all UN operations continue in Sudan," said UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko. No details were provided on the number of staffers leaving Khartoum, where there is a large UN presence of 27 entities, mostly UN aid agencies. The United Nations also runs a peacekeeping mission in Darfur with the African Union, where about 7,200 troops and police are deployed. Sudan has been engulfed in turmoil since security forces on Monday violently broke up a weeks-long sit-in by protesters demanding an end to military rule. The Central Committee for Sudanese Doctors close to the protest movement said on Wednesday that at least 108 people had been killed in the crackdown. Forty bodies have been recovered from the Nile river, they said. Watch: Unrest In Sudan Continues: Military Council Calls For Snap Polls × A military council has ruled the country since the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir on April 11, following months of protests against his three-decade authoritarian rule. Army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced Tuesday that he was scrapping a plan for a three-year transition period and would hold elections within nine months. Western powers have warned that snap elections will crush hopes for a democratic transition in Sudan and have called for a return to negotiations.

UN relocates staff from Sudan, death toll rises to 108

Sudan's military ruler on Wednesday offered to resume a dialogue on a transition to democracy, one day after he<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-army-ruler-cancels-elections-amid-violence-during-sit-in-protest-224030"> scrapped all agreements with an opposition alliance</a>.

The offer by the head of Sudan`s ruling military council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, came as the number of people killed since security forces stormed a protest camp in Khartoum on Monday rose to 60, according to a medical group linked to the opposition.

In a message for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr broadcast on state television, Burhan paid homage to the uprising that began in December and culminated with the military overthrow and arrest of President Omar al-Bashir in April. He was still ready to hand over power to an elected government, he said.

"We in the military council, extend our hands to negotiations without shackles except the interests of the homeland," Burhan said.

Burhan had previously announced he was skipping any negotiations with protest groups and said he would organise elections within nine months.

His decision came after security forces stormed a protest campsite outside the Defence Ministry in central Khartoum in an operation that resulted in the death of at least 35 people, according to the doctors` group.

The association said more people had been killed since then throughout Khartoum and its twin city of Omdruman. 
&nbsp;

Sudan's military ruler on Wednesday offered to resume a dialogue on a transition to democracy, one day after he scrapped all agreements with an opposition alliance.

Sudan's military ruler on Wednesday offered to resume a dialogue on a transition to democracy, one day after he scrapped all agreements with an opposition alliance. The offer by the head of Sudan`s ruling military council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, came as the number of people killed since security forces stormed a protest camp in Khartoum on Monday rose to 60, according to a medical group linked to the opposition. In a message for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr broadcast on state television, Burhan paid homage to the uprising that began in December and culminated with the military overthrow and arrest of President Omar al-Bashir in April. He was still ready to hand over power to an elected government, he said. "We in the military council, extend our hands to negotiations without shackles except the interests of the homeland," Burhan said. Burhan had previously announced he was skipping any negotiations with protest groups and said he would organise elections within nine months. His decision came after security forces stormed a protest campsite outside the Defence Ministry in central Khartoum in an operation that resulted in the death of at least 35 people, according to the doctors` group. The association said more people had been killed since then throughout Khartoum and its twin city of Omdruman.

Sudan's military chief says he's ready to resume talks as death toll rises to 60

At least two people were killed on Monday as Sudan's military council tried to break up a sit-in outside Khartoum's army headquarters, a doctors' committee said as gunfire was heard from the protest site.

"Two peaceful protesters were killed by live bullets fired at the orders of the Transitional Military Council," the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said on Twitter without giving further details.

Gunfire was heard from the protest site by an AFP journalist, who reported a heavy deployment of security forces around the streets of the capital.

There were multiple reports of the military using force to disperse the sit-in in front of army headquarters, where protesters have been camped out for weeks.

"Now an attempt is taking place to disperse the sit-in at the headquarters of the people's armed forces by force by the military council," said the Sudanese Professionals Association, the group which spearheaded nationwide protests that started in December.

Rallies against the authoritarian rule of Omar al-Bashir led to his ouster in April, but demonstrators have remained to call on the generals to cede power to a transitional authority.

Near the demonstration site, a witness living in the Burri neighbourhood said he could "hear the sound of gunfire and I see a plume of smoke rising from the area of the sit-in."&nbsp;

Another resident of the area, in east Khartoum, said he had seen forces in "police uniform" trying to expel the demonstrators.

Britain's ambassador to Khartoum, Irfan Siddiq, said he had heard "heavy gunfire" from his residence.

"Extremely concerned by... reports that Sudanese security forces are attacking the protest sit-in site resulting in casualties. No excuse for any such attack. This. Must. Stop. Now," he wrote on Twitter.

The SPA said it amounted to a "bloody massacre", and called on Sudanese to take part in "total civil disobedience" to topple the military council and for people for take to the streets to protest.

Demonstrators had closed off Street 60, one of the main streets in the capital with stone barricades and burning tree trunks and tires, an AFP journalist said.

The SPA had said on Saturday that it had reason to believe the military council was "planning and working to end the peaceful sit-in at the headquarters with excessive force and violence" after three people were killed in incidents on the fringes of the sit-in last week.

Negotiations between protest leaders and the ruling military council have broken down, as the two sides have failed to agree on whether a planned transitional body would be headed by a civilian or a military figure.

At least two people were killed on Monday as Sudan's military council tried to break up a sit-in outside Khartoum's army headquarters, a doctors' committee said as gunfire was heard from the protest site.

At least two people were killed on Monday as Sudan's military council tried to break up a sit-in outside Khartoum's army headquarters, a doctors' committee said as gunfire was heard from the protest site. "Two peaceful protesters were killed by live bullets fired at the orders of the Transitional Military Council," the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said on Twitter without giving further details. Gunfire was heard from the protest site by an AFP journalist, who reported a heavy deployment of security forces around the streets of the capital. There were multiple reports of the military using force to disperse the sit-in in front of army headquarters, where protesters have been camped out for weeks. "Now an attempt is taking place to disperse the sit-in at the headquarters of the people's armed forces by force by the military council," said the Sudanese Professionals Association, the group which spearheaded nationwide protests that started in December. Rallies against the authoritarian rule of Omar al-Bashir led to his ouster in April, but demonstrators have remained to call on the generals to cede power to a transitional authority. Near the demonstration site, a witness living in the Burri neighbourhood said he could "hear the sound of gunfire and I see a plume of smoke rising from the area of the sit-in." Another resident of the area, in east Khartoum, said he had seen forces in "police uniform" trying to expel the demonstrators. Britain's ambassador to Khartoum, Irfan Siddiq, said he had heard "heavy gunfire" from his residence. "Extremely concerned by... reports that Sudanese security forces are attacking the protest sit-in site resulting in casualties. No excuse for any such attack. This. Must. Stop. Now," he wrote on Twitter. The SPA said it amounted to a "bloody massacre", and called on Sudanese to take part in "total civil disobedience" to topple the military council and for people for take to the streets to protest. Demonstrators had closed off Street 60, one of the main streets in the capital with stone barricades and burning tree trunks and tires, an AFP journalist said. The SPA had said on Saturday that it had reason to believe the military council was "planning and working to end the peaceful sit-in at the headquarters with excessive force and violence" after three people were killed in incidents on the fringes of the sit-in last week. Negotiations between protest leaders and the ruling military council have broken down, as the two sides have failed to agree on whether a planned transitional body would be headed by a civilian or a military figure.

At least 2 killed as Sudan military attempts to break up sit-in outside Khartoum army HQ

At least nine people were wounded on Wednesday when<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-blames-sudan-army-rulers-for-six-deaths-in-violence-218797"> Sudanese forces </a>used live ammunition to clear demonstrators from central Khartoum, a protest group said, and talks on forming a body to lead Sudan to democracy have been suspended for 72 hours.

The violence has cast a shadow on talks that had appeared on course to reach a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-army-rulers-protesters-agree-on-3-year-transition-period-218834">deal on forming a joint military-civilian body to run the country</a> for a three-year transition period until presidential elections. Both sides traded accusations on who was responsible for the violence.

"We hold the military council responsible for attacking civilians," said Amjad Farid, a spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals` Association (SPA), which spearheaded months of protests that led to the military`s removal of President Omar al-Bashir last month.

"They are using the same methods as the previous regime in dealing with rebels," he told Reuters.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-what-next-for-sudan-after-bashirs-fall-211032">Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall?</a>

But the head of Sudan`s Transitional Military Council (TMC), Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accused the demonstrators of breaking an understanding on de-escalation while talks were under way and said protesters were disrupting life in the capital by blocking roads outside a protest zone agreed upon with the military.

In a televised speech broadcast early on Thursday, Burhan read out a long list of what he described as violations of understandings reached with protest leaders and said the TMC had decided to suspend talks for 72 hours "until a suitable atmosphere is created to complete an agreement."

He said the TMC, which took over after overthrowing and jailing Bashir last month, had decided to remove all barricades put up by demonstrators beyond the area where the protesters had been camping since April 6 outside the Defence Ministry.

Early on Wednesday the military announced a committee to investigate the targeting of protesters after at least four people were killed in violence in Khartoum on Monday.

Weeks of street protests that precipitated the end of Bashir`s 30-year rule on April 11 have continued as the opposition demands that the military hand over power to civilians.

A Reuters witness and Sudanese witnesses said that troops in military vehicles using the logo of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fired extensively as they tried to clear demonstrators on al-Mek Nimir Avenue in central Khartoum, near the Foreign Ministry.

The RSF has denied opening fire at demonstrators, state TV reported.&nbsp;

"People were walking towards the barricades and they (security forces) were firing shots at them," a 20-year-old demonstrator, who asked not to be named, said, showing a handful of empty bullet casings and referring to road blocks set up by protesters.

The violence took place hours before the TMC was due to meet representatives of the umbrella opposition group Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) to try to hammer out a final deal for the transition period.

A senior DFCF leader said the TMC has informed them of the suspension of the talks. "No date has been set for the talks to resume," the source told Reuters.&nbsp;

Caution

The two sides, which have held talks for several weeks, announced early on Wednesday they had agreed on the composition of a legislative council and the duration of the transition.&nbsp;

Some demonstrators expressed caution over the prospects of an agreement that would satisfy their demands for a handover of power to civilians, and for security forces to be held to account for the deaths of demonstrators.

"We are still sticking to our plan," said Altaj Blah, a protester in central Khartoum. "The barriers are there and they are not moving until our demands are met."&nbsp;

In the agreement announced early on Wednesday the two sides said the transition would last three years - a compromise between the military council`s proposal of two years and the opposition DFCF`s preference for four.

The TMC said the DFCF would have two-thirds of the seats on a transitional legislative council while parties outside the alliance would take the rest. Elections would be held at the end of the three-year transition.

On Monday after security forces tried to clear some protest sites, at least four people, including three protesters and a military police officer, were killed in an outburst of violence. They were the first deaths linked to the protests for several weeks.

DFCF members blamed security and paramilitary forces, while also voicing suspicions that groups linked to Bashir might be fomenting unrest to undermine the chances of a political accord.

At least nine people were wounded on Wednesday when Sudanese forces used live ammunition to clear demonstrators from central Khartoum, a protest group said, and talks on forming a body to lead Sudan to democracy have been suspended for 72 hours.

At least nine people were wounded on Wednesday when Sudanese forces used live ammunition to clear demonstrators from central Khartoum, a protest group said, and talks on forming a body to lead Sudan to democracy have been suspended for 72 hours. The violence has cast a shadow on talks that had appeared on course to reach a deal on forming a joint military-civilian body to run the country for a three-year transition period until presidential elections. Both sides traded accusations on who was responsible for the violence. "We hold the military council responsible for attacking civilians," said Amjad Farid, a spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals` Association (SPA), which spearheaded months of protests that led to the military`s removal of President Omar al-Bashir last month. "They are using the same methods as the previous regime in dealing with rebels," he told Reuters. Also read- Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall? But the head of Sudan`s Transitional Military Council (TMC), Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accused the demonstrators of breaking an understanding on de-escalation while talks were under way and said protesters were disrupting life in the capital by blocking roads outside a protest zone agreed upon with the military. In a televised speech broadcast early on Thursday, Burhan read out a long list of what he described as violations of understandings reached with protest leaders and said the TMC had decided to suspend talks for 72 hours "until a suitable atmosphere is created to complete an agreement." He said the TMC, which took over after overthrowing and jailing Bashir last month, had decided to remove all barricades put up by demonstrators beyond the area where the protesters had been camping since April 6 outside the Defence Ministry. Early on Wednesday the military announced a committee to investigate the targeting of protesters after at least four people were killed in violence in Khartoum on Monday. Weeks of street protests that precipitated the end of Bashir`s 30-year rule on April 11 have continued as the opposition demands that the military hand over power to civilians. A Reuters witness and Sudanese witnesses said that troops in military vehicles using the logo of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fired extensively as they tried to clear demonstrators on al-Mek Nimir Avenue in central Khartoum, near the Foreign Ministry. The RSF has denied opening fire at demonstrators, state TV reported. "People were walking towards the barricades and they (security forces) were firing shots at them," a 20-year-old demonstrator, who asked not to be named, said, showing a handful of empty bullet casings and referring to road blocks set up by protesters. The violence took place hours before the TMC was due to meet representatives of the umbrella opposition group Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF) to try to hammer out a final deal for the transition period. A senior DFCF leader said the TMC has informed them of the suspension of the talks. "No date has been set for the talks to resume," the source told Reuters. Caution The two sides, which have held talks for several weeks, announced early on Wednesday they had agreed on the composition of a legislative council and the duration of the transition. Some demonstrators expressed caution over the prospects of an agreement that would satisfy their demands for a handover of power to civilians, and for security forces to be held to account for the deaths of demonstrators. "We are still sticking to our plan," said Altaj Blah, a protester in central Khartoum. "The barriers are there and they are not moving until our demands are met." In the agreement announced early on Wednesday the two sides said the transition would last three years - a compromise between the military council`s proposal of two years and the opposition DFCF`s preference for four. The TMC said the DFCF would have two-thirds of the seats on a transitional legislative council while parties outside the alliance would take the rest. Elections would be held at the end of the three-year transition. On Monday after security forces tried to clear some protest sites, at least four people, including three protesters and a military police officer, were killed in an outburst of violence. They were the first deaths linked to the protests for several weeks. DFCF members blamed security and paramilitary forces, while also voicing suspicions that groups linked to Bashir might be fomenting unrest to undermine the chances of a political accord.

Sudanese forces clear protesters with gunfire; talks suspended for 72 hours

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-army-topples-president-omar-al-bashir-209598">Sudanese army rulers</a> and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished.

The protest movement is demanding a civilian-led transition following 30 years of iron-fisted rule by now deposed president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-ousted-president-bashir-charged-over-killing-of-protesters-218466">Omar al-Bashir</a>, but the generals who toppled him have been holding onto a leadership role.

Talks between the two sides resumed earlier in the week but were marred by violence when an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-blames-sudan-army-rulers-for-six-deaths-in-violence-218797">army major and five protesters were killed</a> by unidentified gunmen at a long-running sit-in outside military headquarters in Khartoum.&nbsp;

The two sides announced early Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on the transition period.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-sudans-economic-crisis-had-a-role-in-protests-that-toppled-al-bashir-216685">How Sudan’s economic crisis had a role in protests that toppled al-Bashir</a>

"We agreed on a transitional period of three years," Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, a member of the military council told reporters.

Atta said a final agreement on the sharing of power, including the forming of the next ruling body -- the sovereign council -- &nbsp;will be signed with the protest movement, the Alliance for Freedom and Change, within a day.

"We vow to our people that the agreement will be completed fully within 24 hours in a way that it meets the people's aspirations," Atta said.

He said of the three-year transition period, the first six months will be allocated to signing peace accords with rebels in the country's war zones like Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

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US blames army rulers

The army generals had initially insisted on a two-year transition period, while the protest leaders wanted four years.

The key negotiations however remain on the composition of the sovereign council, which the generals have insisted to be military led while the protest leaders want it to be majority civilian.

After the forming of the sovereign council, which will replace the existing ruling body made up solely of generals, a new transitional civilian government would be formed to run the country's day-to-day affairs.

That civilian government would work towards having the first post-Bashir elections after the end of the transition period.

Atta said that during the transitional period the parliament will be composed of 300 members, of which 67 per cent will be from the Alliance for Freedom and Change and the rest will be from other political groups.

The Alliance for Freedom and Change meanwhile said the shootings on Monday were an attempt to "disturb the breakthrough" in talks.

On Tuesday, the United States blamed the army itself for the deaths.

They "were clearly the result of the Transitional Military Council trying to impose its will on the protesters by attempting to remove roadblocks", the US embassy said on its Facebook page.

"The decision for security forces to escalate the use of force, including the unnecessary use of tear gas, led directly to the unacceptable violence later in the day that the TMC was unable to control," it said.

'Dividing the people'

Protest leaders, who on Monday had blamed the remnants of Bashir's regime and allied militias, changed their stand on Tuesday.

"We put the whole responsibility on the military council for what happened yesterday because it's their direct responsibility to guard and protect the citizens," Mohamed Naji al-Assam, a prominent figure in the movement, told reporters.

The latest round of talks which opened on Monday come after a break in negotiations that saw protest leaders threaten "escalatory measures" to secure their central demand of civilian rule.

The issue has kept thousands of protesters camped outside army headquarters around the clock ever since Bashir's overthrow.

The sit-in has become the focal point for the protest movement, overtaking the near daily protests that had been held across Sudan while the veteran president remained in power.

But on Tuesday, following the previous night's violence in and around the Khartoum sit-in, protesters vented their anger on the streets of the capital's twin city Omdurman.

Protesters gathered in the Abbassiya and Al-Arbaa districts, just across the Nile from the capital, with many chanting slogans against the military council, witnesses told AFP.

"Protect your homeland or prepare to die!" the protesters chanted.&nbsp;

In Arbaa, some demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres, a witness said, adding that troops deployed to the area.

Hashim Ali Sayed, a protester at the sit-in, blamed the former regime for the "dirty work" on Monday.

"They are playing the game of dividing the people in order to control the situation."

Sudanese army rulers and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished.

Sudanese army rulers and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished. The protest movement is demanding a civilian-led transition following 30 years of iron-fisted rule by now deposed president Omar al-Bashir, but the generals who toppled him have been holding onto a leadership role. Talks between the two sides resumed earlier in the week but were marred by violence when an army major and five protesters were killed by unidentified gunmen at a long-running sit-in outside military headquarters in Khartoum. The two sides announced early Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on the transition period. Also read: How Sudan’s economic crisis had a role in protests that toppled al-Bashir "We agreed on a transitional period of three years," Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, a member of the military council told reporters. Atta said a final agreement on the sharing of power, including the forming of the next ruling body -- the sovereign council -- will be signed with the protest movement, the Alliance for Freedom and Change, within a day. "We vow to our people that the agreement will be completed fully within 24 hours in a way that it meets the people's aspirations," Atta said. He said of the three-year transition period, the first six months will be allocated to signing peace accords with rebels in the country's war zones like Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan. × US blames army rulers The army generals had initially insisted on a two-year transition period, while the protest leaders wanted four years. The key negotiations however remain on the composition of the sovereign council, which the generals have insisted to be military led while the protest leaders want it to be majority civilian. After the forming of the sovereign council, which will replace the existing ruling body made up solely of generals, a new transitional civilian government would be formed to run the country's day-to-day affairs. That civilian government would work towards having the first post-Bashir elections after the end of the transition period. Atta said that during the transitional period the parliament will be composed of 300 members, of which 67 per cent will be from the Alliance for Freedom and Change and the rest will be from other political groups. The Alliance for Freedom and Change meanwhile said the shootings on Monday were an attempt to "disturb the breakthrough" in talks. On Tuesday, the United States blamed the army itself for the deaths. They "were clearly the result of the Transitional Military Council trying to impose its will on the protesters by attempting to remove roadblocks", the US embassy said on its Facebook page. "The decision for security forces to escalate the use of force, including the unnecessary use of tear gas, led directly to the unacceptable violence later in the day that the TMC was unable to control," it said. 'Dividing the people' Protest leaders, who on Monday had blamed the remnants of Bashir's regime and allied militias, changed their stand on Tuesday. "We put the whole responsibility on the military council for what happened yesterday because it's their direct responsibility to guard and protect the citizens," Mohamed Naji al-Assam, a prominent figure in the movement, told reporters. The latest round of talks which opened on Monday come after a break in negotiations that saw protest leaders threaten "escalatory measures" to secure their central demand of civilian rule. The issue has kept thousands of protesters camped outside army headquarters around the clock ever since Bashir's overthrow. The sit-in has become the focal point for the protest movement, overtaking the near daily protests that had been held across Sudan while the veteran president remained in power. But on Tuesday, following the previous night's violence in and around the Khartoum sit-in, protesters vented their anger on the streets of the capital's twin city Omdurman. Protesters gathered in the Abbassiya and Al-Arbaa districts, just across the Nile from the capital, with many chanting slogans against the military council, witnesses told AFP. "Protect your homeland or prepare to die!" the protesters chanted. In Arbaa, some demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres, a witness said, adding that troops deployed to the area. Hashim Ali Sayed, a protester at the sit-in, blamed the former regime for the "dirty work" on Monday. "They are playing the game of dividing the people in order to control the situation."

Sudan army rulers, protesters agree on 3-year transition period

Sudan's military leaders have agreed with opposition groups to a three-year transition period to transfer power to a fully civilian administration. Watch full video to know more.

Sudanese military leaders and protesters agree on three-year transition period

Sudan's military rulers have invited protest leaders for a new round of talks on transferring power to a civilian administration, the protest movement said Saturday.

The call came as thousands of demonstrators remain camped outside army headquarters in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-faces-fuel-crisis-and-worsening-cash-crunch-215973">central Khartoum</a>, vowing to force the generals to cede power just as they forced veteran president Omar al-Bashir from office exactly a month ago.

Talks on the protesters' key demand for a civilian-led body to oversee a four-year transition have been deadlocked for days, with the military insisting on holding a majority in any new ruling body.

"We received a call from the military council to resume negotiations," the Alliance for Freedom and Change said in a statement.

Late last month, the alliance, which brings together protest organisers and opposition and rebel groups, handed the generals its proposals for a civilian-led transition.

But the generals have expressed "many reservations" over the alliance's roadmap,

They have singled out its silence on the constitutional position of Islamic sharia law which was the guiding principle of all legislation under Bashir's rule but is anathema to secular groups like the Sudanese Communist Party and some rebel factions in the alliance.

"We have identified the points of contention with the military council and ... decisive talks will revolve around (them) in each meeting," the alliance said in its statement.

"We want to hold the talks quickly and sort out all these points in 72 hours," it said without specifying when the negotiations would resume.

Sudan's military rulers have invited protest leaders for a new round of talks on transferring power to a civilian administration, the protest movement said Saturday.

Sudan's military rulers have invited protest leaders for a new round of talks on transferring power to a civilian administration, the protest movement said Saturday. The call came as thousands of demonstrators remain camped outside army headquarters in central Khartoum, vowing to force the generals to cede power just as they forced veteran president Omar al-Bashir from office exactly a month ago. Talks on the protesters' key demand for a civilian-led body to oversee a four-year transition have been deadlocked for days, with the military insisting on holding a majority in any new ruling body. "We received a call from the military council to resume negotiations," the Alliance for Freedom and Change said in a statement. Late last month, the alliance, which brings together protest organisers and opposition and rebel groups, handed the generals its proposals for a civilian-led transition. But the generals have expressed "many reservations" over the alliance's roadmap, They have singled out its silence on the constitutional position of Islamic sharia law which was the guiding principle of all legislation under Bashir's rule but is anathema to secular groups like the Sudanese Communist Party and some rebel factions in the alliance. "We have identified the points of contention with the military council and ... decisive talks will revolve around (them) in each meeting," the alliance said in its statement. "We want to hold the talks quickly and sort out all these points in 72 hours," it said without specifying when the negotiations would resume.

Sudan's military invites protest leaders for new round of talks on transferring power to civilians

Sudanese protest and opposition leaders on Wednesday called for a campaign of civil disobedience in response to what one of them described as the military`s "disappointing" answer to their proposals for an interim government.

This could put the protesters and the ruling <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-military-rulers-want-sharia-law-to-guide-legislation-under-interim-government-216871">Transitional Military Council (TMC)</a> on a collision course following weeks of wrangling over how to manage an interim period after the ousting of long-ruling President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-sudans-economic-crisis-had-a-role-in-protests-that-toppled-al-bashir-216685/amp">Omar al-Bashir </a>from office.

"We call for and prepare for civil disobedience," Madani Abbas Madani, a leader of the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF), told a news conference in Khartoum.

The DFCF, the opposition groups` umbrella body, did not give details of what it planned. But the DFCF has led work strikes, marches, protest sit-ins and other acts of civil disobedience for weeks. Protesters have also blocked bridges, roads and rail tracks, disrupting Sudan`s transport infrastructure.

Khalid Omar Yousef, another protest leader, said the aim was not to start a confrontation with the military but to speed up efforts to resolve the impasse.

Thousands of protesters have camped for weeks outside the Defence Ministry in central Khartoum and, having secured a military overthrow of Bashir, are now demanding that the TMC hand over power to civilians.

The constitutional draft prepared by the DFCF describes the duties of a sovereign transitional council that would replace the TMC, but does not specify who would sit on it. The plan, seen by Reuters, also outlines the responsibilities of the Cabinet and a 120-member legislature.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan spoke with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of the TMC, on Wednesday and urged it to reach agreement with the DFCF that reflects the will of the Sudanese people and to move "expeditiously" toward a civilian-led interim government.

In a statement, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Sullivan also "encouraged the TMC to allow peaceful protest and the freedom of expression consistent with Sudan’s human rights obligations."&nbsp;

A senior Kenyan diplomat praised the "responsible" and "patient" behaviour of the opposition protesters.

"Us as a neighbour ... send our solidarity message into Sudan to express our support for the people and to urge an inclusive process," Monica Juma, Kenya`s chief Cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, told reporters in Washington after launching a strategic dialogue with the United States.

"We called on all parties to act with restraint ... because it is important that this process evolves in a peaceful manner," she said.

`IDEOLOGICAL WEAPONS`

On Tuesday, the TMC welcomed the proposals but said they neglected some important issues such as a reference to Islamic sharia as a source for legislation.

The protesters accused the TMC of dragging its feet, saying issues like sharia were not a matter for the interim constitution.

"Issues like sharia and the language of the state, those are ideological weapons the former regime (kept) using to divide the people for the issue of mobilisation," DFCF member Yousef said.

"Muslims against non-Muslims, Arabs against non-Arabs. It`s a very dangerous thing and we are not willing to go for this game."

Sudan`s population of around 40 million is about 97 per cent Muslim, with most of the rest Christians. The country is a mix of ethnic groups, including Arabs, Nubians and other African ethnic minorities.

Opposition leaders said at the news conference on Wednesday that the TMC response would effectively give the military control of a proposed interim government.

A TMC member, Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, said the council was prepared to sit down with the protesters to discuss the differences.

The TMC has said it is willing to agree to a government of technocrats, but that it wants to retain overall control pending elections to prevent Sudan sliding into chaos.

Seeking to show it is heeding protesters` demands, the council has fired senior Bashir aides, placed paramilitary security bodies under state control and ordered the dissolution of a security agency that was linked to the former president`s ruling Islamist party.&nbsp;

Bashir, in power for 30 years, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Sudan`s western Darfur region. He is in prison and under investigation for money laundering.

Sudanese protest and opposition leaders on Wednesday called for a campaign of civil disobedience in response to what one of them described as the military`s "disappointing" answer to their proposals for an interim government.

Sudanese protest and opposition leaders on Wednesday called for a campaign of civil disobedience in response to what one of them described as the military`s "disappointing" answer to their proposals for an interim government. This could put the protesters and the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) on a collision course following weeks of wrangling over how to manage an interim period after the ousting of long-ruling President Omar al-Bashir from office. "We call for and prepare for civil disobedience," Madani Abbas Madani, a leader of the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF), told a news conference in Khartoum. The DFCF, the opposition groups` umbrella body, did not give details of what it planned. But the DFCF has led work strikes, marches, protest sit-ins and other acts of civil disobedience for weeks. Protesters have also blocked bridges, roads and rail tracks, disrupting Sudan`s transport infrastructure. Khalid Omar Yousef, another protest leader, said the aim was not to start a confrontation with the military but to speed up efforts to resolve the impasse. Thousands of protesters have camped for weeks outside the Defence Ministry in central Khartoum and, having secured a military overthrow of Bashir, are now demanding that the TMC hand over power to civilians. The constitutional draft prepared by the DFCF describes the duties of a sovereign transitional council that would replace the TMC, but does not specify who would sit on it. The plan, seen by Reuters, also outlines the responsibilities of the Cabinet and a 120-member legislature. US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan spoke with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of the TMC, on Wednesday and urged it to reach agreement with the DFCF that reflects the will of the Sudanese people and to move "expeditiously" toward a civilian-led interim government. In a statement, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Sullivan also "encouraged the TMC to allow peaceful protest and the freedom of expression consistent with Sudan’s human rights obligations." A senior Kenyan diplomat praised the "responsible" and "patient" behaviour of the opposition protesters. "Us as a neighbour ... send our solidarity message into Sudan to express our support for the people and to urge an inclusive process," Monica Juma, Kenya`s chief Cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, told reporters in Washington after launching a strategic dialogue with the United States. "We called on all parties to act with restraint ... because it is important that this process evolves in a peaceful manner," she said. `IDEOLOGICAL WEAPONS` On Tuesday, the TMC welcomed the proposals but said they neglected some important issues such as a reference to Islamic sharia as a source for legislation. The protesters accused the TMC of dragging its feet, saying issues like sharia were not a matter for the interim constitution. "Issues like sharia and the language of the state, those are ideological weapons the former regime (kept) using to divide the people for the issue of mobilisation," DFCF member Yousef said. "Muslims against non-Muslims, Arabs against non-Arabs. It`s a very dangerous thing and we are not willing to go for this game." Sudan`s population of around 40 million is about 97 per cent Muslim, with most of the rest Christians. The country is a mix of ethnic groups, including Arabs, Nubians and other African ethnic minorities. Opposition leaders said at the news conference on Wednesday that the TMC response would effectively give the military control of a proposed interim government. A TMC member, Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, said the council was prepared to sit down with the protesters to discuss the differences. The TMC has said it is willing to agree to a government of technocrats, but that it wants to retain overall control pending elections to prevent Sudan sliding into chaos. Seeking to show it is heeding protesters` demands, the council has fired senior Bashir aides, placed paramilitary security bodies under state control and ordered the dissolution of a security agency that was linked to the former president`s ruling Islamist party. Bashir, in power for 30 years, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Sudan`s western Darfur region. He is in prison and under investigation for money laundering.

Sudan's protest coalition calls for civil disobedience campaign

Sudan's ruling military council is insisting that Sharia remain the basis of the country's new laws. Watch full video to know more.

WION Global Round-Up: Sudan military Council want to retain Sharia law as legal guide

Sudan`s military rulers said on Tuesday they generally agreed with proposals made by protest leaders on the structure of an interim government, but want Islamic Sharia laws and local norms to guide legislation.

Protesters whose months of street demonstrations helped force longtime President Omar al-Bashir from office last month have kept up their demands for change, calling on the military officers who took over to hand over power to civilians.

Responding to a draft constitutional document presented by a coalition of protest groups and political parties, the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) noted that the document omitted Sharia law.

"Our view is that Islamic Sharia and the local norms and traditions in the Republic of Sudan should be the sources of legislation," TMC spokesman Lieutenant General Shams El Din Kabbashi told reporters.&nbsp;

He also said the council believes that the power to declare a state of emergency in the country should go to a sovereign authority, not the Cabinet as the opposition suggested. The transitional period should last two years, not four, which was the opposition`s proposal, he said.

Discussions with the opposition were ongoing, but calling early elections within six months would be an option if they could not reach an agreement, Kabbashi said.&nbsp;

Former intelligence chief Salah Gosh was under house arrest, he added.&nbsp;

Another council member said more than four members of the TMC had resigned and that the TMC was dismantling an unofficial militia group, known as Popular Security, which was operated by Bashir`s party.&nbsp;

This came after Sudanese forces seized explosives belts, guns including rifles fitted with silencers, devices used to detonate explosives remotely and satellite telephones in a raid on a property in the capital Khartoum, on Monday&nbsp;

The TMC said on Tuesday that those weapons belonged to Popular Security.&nbsp;

The Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces, an alliance of activists and opposition groups, sent the military council the draft constitutional document on Thursday outlining its vision for the transitional period.&nbsp;

Earlier on Tuesday the main group spearheading protests in Sudan said that the TMC had responded to its plans for an interim government structure, and it would announce its position once it had studied the reply.

Amjad Farid, spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which has played the leading role in the protests, said the council had sent a written reply.&nbsp;

"We will study the response and will announce our position later," Farid told reporters.&nbsp;

The constitutional draft, seen by Reuters, describes the duties of a sovereign transitional council that the opposition groups hope will replace the TMC, but does not specify who would sit on it. It also outlines the responsibilities of the Cabinet and a 120-member legislature.

The military removed Bashir on April 11 after months of demonstrations against his 30-year rule.

Sudan`s military rulers said on Tuesday they generally agreed with proposals made by protest leaders on the structure of an interim government, but want Islamic Sharia laws and local norms to guide legislation.

Sudan`s military rulers said on Tuesday they generally agreed with proposals made by protest leaders on the structure of an interim government, but want Islamic Sharia laws and local norms to guide legislation. Protesters whose months of street demonstrations helped force longtime President Omar al-Bashir from office last month have kept up their demands for change, calling on the military officers who took over to hand over power to civilians. Responding to a draft constitutional document presented by a coalition of protest groups and political parties, the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) noted that the document omitted Sharia law. "Our view is that Islamic Sharia and the local norms and traditions in the Republic of Sudan should be the sources of legislation," TMC spokesman Lieutenant General Shams El Din Kabbashi told reporters. He also said the council believes that the power to declare a state of emergency in the country should go to a sovereign authority, not the Cabinet as the opposition suggested. The transitional period should last two years, not four, which was the opposition`s proposal, he said. Discussions with the opposition were ongoing, but calling early elections within six months would be an option if they could not reach an agreement, Kabbashi said. Former intelligence chief Salah Gosh was under house arrest, he added. Another council member said more than four members of the TMC had resigned and that the TMC was dismantling an unofficial militia group, known as Popular Security, which was operated by Bashir`s party. This came after Sudanese forces seized explosives belts, guns including rifles fitted with silencers, devices used to detonate explosives remotely and satellite telephones in a raid on a property in the capital Khartoum, on Monday The TMC said on Tuesday that those weapons belonged to Popular Security. The Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces, an alliance of activists and opposition groups, sent the military council the draft constitutional document on Thursday outlining its vision for the transitional period. Earlier on Tuesday the main group spearheading protests in Sudan said that the TMC had responded to its plans for an interim government structure, and it would announce its position once it had studied the reply. Amjad Farid, spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which has played the leading role in the protests, said the council had sent a written reply. "We will study the response and will announce our position later," Farid told reporters. The constitutional draft, seen by Reuters, describes the duties of a sovereign transitional council that the opposition groups hope will replace the TMC, but does not specify who would sit on it. It also outlines the responsibilities of the Cabinet and a 120-member legislature. The military removed Bashir on April 11 after months of demonstrations against his 30-year rule.

Sudan military rulers want Sharia law to guide legislation under interim government

Sudan is facing a pre-Ramadan fuel crisis and a worsening cash crunch less than a month after president Omar al-Bashir was ousted following protests sparked by bread and fuel shortages.

Cars queued at almost every petrol station in Khartoum on Saturday as motorists waited for fuel for several hours. Soldiers manned the stations to ensure order.

The crisis, along with a cash shortage and electricity outages, pose challenges to the country`s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC), set up after generals deposed Bashir and arrested him on April 11.

The TMC is locked in a standoff with the opposition over who will control a proposed joint civilian-military body to oversee the country until elections can be held. Protests have continued in a bid to push the council to cede power to civilians.

At least a dozen ATMs in a commercial area in central Khartoum had no cash, and dozens of people lined up at those still dispensing money. A Reuters witness counted 88 customers in one line on a main road in central Khartoum.

Queues had previously been shorter and more ATMs held cash.

"I am searching since the morning for an ATM to withdraw cash from," said Ahmed Yassin, 52. "I have been standing in line for three hours and I must withdraw so that I can buy Ramadan needs for my family."

One banking employee, who declined to be named, said most ATMs held no cash.

Most Sudanese employees get paid near the beginning of the month, and consumer spending often increases during the Islamic month of Ramadan, likely to begin on May 6, contributing to the liquidity crisis.&nbsp;

The maximum daily withdrawal has long been set at 2,000 Sudanese pounds ($45). Some have set up several bank accounts to try to circumvent the limit.

Most residential areas in the capital experience near-daily electricity outages for hours. The increasing blackouts occurred as Khartoum`s temperatures soar to highs of 45 Celsius.

Bashir`s government had run up enormous budget deficits by subsidising fuel, bread and other products. To cover the deficit, it expanded the money supply.

But that served to debase the currency, causing inflation to rise and the value of the Sudanese pound against other currencies to plummet - in turn pushing up the cost of subsidies and widening the deficit even further.

Attempts to raise bread and fuel prices to reduce the cost of subsidies sparked the protests that led to the military`s overthrowal of Bashir last month.

Sudan is facing a pre-Ramadan fuel crisis and a worsening cash crunch less than a month after president Omar al-Bashir was ousted following protests sparked by bread and fuel shortages.

Sudan is facing a pre-Ramadan fuel crisis and a worsening cash crunch less than a month after president Omar al-Bashir was ousted following protests sparked by bread and fuel shortages. Cars queued at almost every petrol station in Khartoum on Saturday as motorists waited for fuel for several hours. Soldiers manned the stations to ensure order. The crisis, along with a cash shortage and electricity outages, pose challenges to the country`s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC), set up after generals deposed Bashir and arrested him on April 11. The TMC is locked in a standoff with the opposition over who will control a proposed joint civilian-military body to oversee the country until elections can be held. Protests have continued in a bid to push the council to cede power to civilians. At least a dozen ATMs in a commercial area in central Khartoum had no cash, and dozens of people lined up at those still dispensing money. A Reuters witness counted 88 customers in one line on a main road in central Khartoum. Queues had previously been shorter and more ATMs held cash. "I am searching since the morning for an ATM to withdraw cash from," said Ahmed Yassin, 52. "I have been standing in line for three hours and I must withdraw so that I can buy Ramadan needs for my family." One banking employee, who declined to be named, said most ATMs held no cash. Most Sudanese employees get paid near the beginning of the month, and consumer spending often increases during the Islamic month of Ramadan, likely to begin on May 6, contributing to the liquidity crisis. The maximum daily withdrawal has long been set at 2,000 Sudanese pounds ($45). Some have set up several bank accounts to try to circumvent the limit. Most residential areas in the capital experience near-daily electricity outages for hours. The increasing blackouts occurred as Khartoum`s temperatures soar to highs of 45 Celsius. Bashir`s government had run up enormous budget deficits by subsidising fuel, bread and other products. To cover the deficit, it expanded the money supply. But that served to debase the currency, causing inflation to rise and the value of the Sudanese pound against other currencies to plummet - in turn pushing up the cost of subsidies and widening the deficit even further. Attempts to raise bread and fuel prices to reduce the cost of subsidies sparked the protests that led to the military`s overthrowal of Bashir last month.

Sudan faces fuel crisis and worsening cash crunch

Sudan's military rulers said they were ready to negotiate with the opposition over the political future of the country but there should be no further unrest beyond Tuesday, a reference to protests disrupting trains and bridges.

Opposition groups and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/symbol-of-sudan-protest-movement-pushes-for-further-change-214607/amp">protesters</a> have been pressing the Transitional Military Council (TMC) to speed up the move to civilian rule since the army ousted former president Omar al-Bashir on April 11.

"We are ready to negotiate but no chaos after today," said the TMC's deputy head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who goes by the nickname Hemedti. "We told them, continue with the sit-in, but the train is connected to delivering fuel," he added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-to-deposit-250-million-in-sudans-central-bank-214196/amp">UAE to deposit $250 million in Sudan's central bank</a>

The main organisers of the protests - the Sudanese Professionals Association - called on Monday for civil disobedience and a general strike as meetings with the TMC failed to provide any breakthrough on the creation of a joint civilian-military transitional council.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the military said it would not disperse a protest sit-in that has been taking place outside the defence ministry since April 6.

The sit-in, the culmination of months of demonstrations against Bashir’s three-decade rule, carried on after the army removed him from power, as protesters demanded civilian rule.

"We have no interest in dispersing the sit-in but it's in the interest of the Sudanese people to open the roads," said Lieutenant General Salah Abdelkhalek, a TMC member.

He also distanced the TMC from the previous government.

"We are part of the revolution and not part of the former regime as people view us."

During the press conference, the TMC also said it had accepted the resignations of three TMC members. The SPA had demanded that the three be dismissed over their alleged role in a crackdown that killed dozens of protesters.

One of the three members, who resigned last week, was Lieutenant-General Omar Zain al-Abideen who headed the TMC’s political committee. The other two were Lieutenant-General Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh and Lieutenant-General Al-Tayeb Babakr Ali Fadeel.

Sudan's military rulers said they were ready to negotiate with the opposition over the political future of the country but there should be no further unrest beyond Tuesday, a reference to protests disrupting trains and bridges.

Sudan's military rulers said they were ready to negotiate with the opposition over the political future of the country but there should be no further unrest beyond Tuesday, a reference to protests disrupting trains and bridges. Opposition groups and protesters have been pressing the Transitional Military Council (TMC) to speed up the move to civilian rule since the army ousted former president Omar al-Bashir on April 11. "We are ready to negotiate but no chaos after today," said the TMC's deputy head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who goes by the nickname Hemedti. "We told them, continue with the sit-in, but the train is connected to delivering fuel," he added. Also read: UAE to deposit $250 million in Sudan's central bank The main organisers of the protests - the Sudanese Professionals Association - called on Monday for civil disobedience and a general strike as meetings with the TMC failed to provide any breakthrough on the creation of a joint civilian-military transitional council. At a press conference on Tuesday, the military said it would not disperse a protest sit-in that has been taking place outside the defence ministry since April 6. The sit-in, the culmination of months of demonstrations against Bashir’s three-decade rule, carried on after the army removed him from power, as protesters demanded civilian rule. "We have no interest in dispersing the sit-in but it's in the interest of the Sudanese people to open the roads," said Lieutenant General Salah Abdelkhalek, a TMC member. He also distanced the TMC from the previous government. "We are part of the revolution and not part of the former regime as people view us." During the press conference, the TMC also said it had accepted the resignations of three TMC members. The SPA had demanded that the three be dismissed over their alleged role in a crackdown that killed dozens of protesters. One of the three members, who resigned last week, was Lieutenant-General Omar Zain al-Abideen who headed the TMC’s political committee. The other two were Lieutenant-General Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh and Lieutenant-General Al-Tayeb Babakr Ali Fadeel.

Sudan's military rulers: 'We are ready to negotiate but no chaos after today'

Three members of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-uae-pledge-3-billion-financial-aid-for-sudan-212362&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj-2ea0pevhAhWhW3wKHWE7BRsQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3CCe4X7FHuVVRE5ElP8rA6">Sudan`s</a> ruling Transitional Military Council have resigned, but their resignations are yet to be accepted, the TMC said late on Wednesday.

Lieutenant-General Omar Zain al-Abideen who heads the TMC`s political committee was one of the resigning members, the TMC said in a statement.

The two others were Lieutenant-General Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh and Lieutenant-General Al-Tayeb Babakr Ali Fadeel.&nbsp;

The resignations came after the Sudanese Professionals` Association, the main protest organiser, called for a million-strong march to take place on Thursday.

One of the SPA`s demands was that the three lieutenant-generals, Abideen, Fadeel and Sheikh, be dismissed and tried over their alleged role in a crackdown that killed dozens of protesters.&nbsp;

Earlier on Wednesday evening, the opposition and the TMC agreed to form a committee to resolve their disagreements, amid tensions over how long it will take to move to civilian rule after the overthrow of autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

"We are partners working together to bring Sudan to safety," TMC spokesman Shams El Din Kabbashi said on state TV following a meeting with the umbrella group Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change, which includes the SPA.

The TMC had invited the opposition to the talks, saying that "the doors of dialogue and negotiation are open."&nbsp;

The opposition movement voiced a willingness to participate in the talks.

"The Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change decided to respond to the invitation and listen with an open mind to what the president of the military council will propose, asserting that our desire is the peaceful transfer to a transitional civilian authority that reflects the forces of the revolution," the SPA said in a statement.&nbsp;

The TMC and the opposition had appeared on a collision course in recent days over popular demands for democratisation under a civilian government.

The SPA had declared on Sunday it would suspend talks with the military council.

While the opposition has insisted on a swift handover of power to civilians, the TMC has said the process could take up to two years. Bashir ruled for 30 years after taking power in a military coup in 1989.

On Tuesday, the SPA and witnesses said security forces tried to break up a protester sit-in outside Khartoum`s Defence Ministry. The group instead encouraged protesters to put up more barriers and continue their demonstration.

Three members of Sudan`s ruling Transitional Military Council have resigned, but their resignations are yet to be accepted, the TMC said late on Wednesday. Lieutenant-General Omar Zain al-Abideen who heads the TMC`s political committee was one of the resigning members, the TMC said in a statement.

Three members of Sudan`s ruling Transitional Military Council have resigned, but their resignations are yet to be accepted, the TMC said late on Wednesday. Lieutenant-General Omar Zain al-Abideen who heads the TMC`s political committee was one of the resigning members, the TMC said in a statement. The two others were Lieutenant-General Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh and Lieutenant-General Al-Tayeb Babakr Ali Fadeel. The resignations came after the Sudanese Professionals` Association, the main protest organiser, called for a million-strong march to take place on Thursday. One of the SPA`s demands was that the three lieutenant-generals, Abideen, Fadeel and Sheikh, be dismissed and tried over their alleged role in a crackdown that killed dozens of protesters. Earlier on Wednesday evening, the opposition and the TMC agreed to form a committee to resolve their disagreements, amid tensions over how long it will take to move to civilian rule after the overthrow of autocrat Omar al-Bashir. "We are partners working together to bring Sudan to safety," TMC spokesman Shams El Din Kabbashi said on state TV following a meeting with the umbrella group Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change, which includes the SPA. The TMC had invited the opposition to the talks, saying that "the doors of dialogue and negotiation are open." The opposition movement voiced a willingness to participate in the talks. "The Forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change decided to respond to the invitation and listen with an open mind to what the president of the military council will propose, asserting that our desire is the peaceful transfer to a transitional civilian authority that reflects the forces of the revolution," the SPA said in a statement. The TMC and the opposition had appeared on a collision course in recent days over popular demands for democratisation under a civilian government. The SPA had declared on Sunday it would suspend talks with the military council. While the opposition has insisted on a swift handover of power to civilians, the TMC has said the process could take up to two years. Bashir ruled for 30 years after taking power in a military coup in 1989. On Tuesday, the SPA and witnesses said security forces tried to break up a protester sit-in outside Khartoum`s Defence Ministry. The group instead encouraged protesters to put up more barriers and continue their demonstration.

Three members of Sudan military council resign after demand by opposition

Sudanese protest leaders Sunday suspended talks with military rulers, after the army failed to meet their demand for an immediate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/military-council-committed-to-hand-power-over-to-people-sudans-army-ruler-212378">transfer to civilian rule</a>.

The protest leaders had planned to name members of a civilian body to take over from the ruling military council which took power on April 11 after ousting veteran leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudanese-authorities-arrest-members-of-bashirs-party-source-212213">Omar al-Bashir</a>.

The momentum had been building all day Sunday as a sea of protesters waited outside army headquarters for the planned unveiling of the civilian council, but by nightfall it was clear it would not happen.

"We are suspending our talks with the military council," Mohamed al-Amin, a spokesman for the protest movement, told the tens of thousands of protesters gathered at the army complex.

He said the weeks-long sit-in will continue, and accused the military council of being little different from Bashir's ousted regime.

"We call for escalating and continuing the demonstrations until the demands are met," said Amin.

"We are treating the military council as an extension of the regime."

Wagdi Saleh, a leading figure of the protest movement, blamed the military rulers for the delayed unveiling of a civilian council.

He said that during talks on Saturday "the military council had shown its dark side."

"The chief of the council's political committee told our delegation that they are still considering our demand among 100 other demands from other political parties."

Madani Abbas Madani, a spokesman for Alliance for Freedom and Change, said late Sunday a "sovereign council, a government and a legislative body" would be announced "within days" by protest leaders.

The crowds responded by continuing to sing and dance, holding their mobile phones aloft, as the torches on their devices created a sea of light and speakers churned out nationalist songs.

"High! High! Sudan is up high," they chanted.

"Our revolution is civilian and protected by the people," they vowed.

'Power to the people'

Earlier Sunday new military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed he was committed to handing power to the people, and pledged to respond to the demonstrators' demands within a week.

The military council has been put in place for a planned two-year transition period.

"The council is committed to give power to (the) people," Burhan insisted, in his first interview on state television since taking power.

But he later hit out at protesters for erecting road blocks.

"I condemn the blocking of roads and searching people without authority," he told senior army officers, according to the military council.

"It can't continue like this because security is the responsibility of the state," Burhan said.

Protesters have set up their own make-shift checkpoints to frisk people who come to the protest site where they have been encamped since before Bashir's ouster.&nbsp;

Burhan on Sunday also confirmed that cash worth over 113 million dollars had been seized from deposed president Omar al-Bashir's residence.&nbsp;

He said a team of police, army and security agents found a cash haul including seven million euros ($7.8 million), $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds ($105 million) during a search at Bashir's home.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates meanwhile offered $3 billion on Sunday in financial aid to the cash-starved country.

The northeast African nation is one of the world's most impoverished countries and faces an acute foreign currency shortage -- a key factor which helped trigger nationwide protests against Bashir.

'End military rule'

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), at the forefront of the protests, had said it would unveil its own civilian council by Sunday night.&nbsp;

"All Sudanese people are in favour of the council to be announced by the SPA," Romaysaa Omar, one of the protesters at the sit-in area, told AFP.

On Saturday, protest leaders and the military rulers held talks about a power handover and had initially agreed to continue discussions.

The two sides have struggled to agree on the shape and form of a civilian leadership.

"What we want from them (the military) is a timetable to hand over power, so things don't drag on," said Ahmed al-Rabia, a leader of the umbrella group of unions for doctors, engineers and teachers.

Protest leaders say the civilian council would form a transitional government to rule Sudan for a four-year term, followed by elections.

"All we hope for is to be ruled by civilians and get rid of the military rule," said protester Ehsan Abdallah.

The military council has made some concessions to the protesters by agreeing to demands such as detaining Bashir and releasing many political prisoners and demonstrators.

Sudanese protest leaders Sunday suspended talks with military rulers, after the army failed to meet their demand for an immediate transfer to civilian rule. The protest leaders had planned to name members of a civilian body to take over from the ruling military council which took power on April 11 after ousting veteran leader Omar al-Bashir.

Sudanese protest leaders Sunday suspended talks with military rulers, after the army failed to meet their demand for an immediate transfer to civilian rule. The protest leaders had planned to name members of a civilian body to take over from the ruling military council which took power on April 11 after ousting veteran leader Omar al-Bashir. The momentum had been building all day Sunday as a sea of protesters waited outside army headquarters for the planned unveiling of the civilian council, but by nightfall it was clear it would not happen. "We are suspending our talks with the military council," Mohamed al-Amin, a spokesman for the protest movement, told the tens of thousands of protesters gathered at the army complex. He said the weeks-long sit-in will continue, and accused the military council of being little different from Bashir's ousted regime. "We call for escalating and continuing the demonstrations until the demands are met," said Amin. "We are treating the military council as an extension of the regime." Wagdi Saleh, a leading figure of the protest movement, blamed the military rulers for the delayed unveiling of a civilian council. He said that during talks on Saturday "the military council had shown its dark side." "The chief of the council's political committee told our delegation that they are still considering our demand among 100 other demands from other political parties." Madani Abbas Madani, a spokesman for Alliance for Freedom and Change, said late Sunday a "sovereign council, a government and a legislative body" would be announced "within days" by protest leaders. The crowds responded by continuing to sing and dance, holding their mobile phones aloft, as the torches on their devices created a sea of light and speakers churned out nationalist songs. "High! High! Sudan is up high," they chanted. "Our revolution is civilian and protected by the people," they vowed. 'Power to the people' Earlier Sunday new military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed he was committed to handing power to the people, and pledged to respond to the demonstrators' demands within a week. The military council has been put in place for a planned two-year transition period. "The council is committed to give power to (the) people," Burhan insisted, in his first interview on state television since taking power. But he later hit out at protesters for erecting road blocks. "I condemn the blocking of roads and searching people without authority," he told senior army officers, according to the military council. "It can't continue like this because security is the responsibility of the state," Burhan said. Protesters have set up their own make-shift checkpoints to frisk people who come to the protest site where they have been encamped since before Bashir's ouster. Burhan on Sunday also confirmed that cash worth over 113 million dollars had been seized from deposed president Omar al-Bashir's residence. He said a team of police, army and security agents found a cash haul including seven million euros ($7.8 million), $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds ($105 million) during a search at Bashir's home. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates meanwhile offered $3 billion on Sunday in financial aid to the cash-starved country. The northeast African nation is one of the world's most impoverished countries and faces an acute foreign currency shortage -- a key factor which helped trigger nationwide protests against Bashir. 'End military rule' The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), at the forefront of the protests, had said it would unveil its own civilian council by Sunday night. "All Sudanese people are in favour of the council to be announced by the SPA," Romaysaa Omar, one of the protesters at the sit-in area, told AFP. On Saturday, protest leaders and the military rulers held talks about a power handover and had initially agreed to continue discussions. The two sides have struggled to agree on the shape and form of a civilian leadership. "What we want from them (the military) is a timetable to hand over power, so things don't drag on," said Ahmed al-Rabia, a leader of the umbrella group of unions for doctors, engineers and teachers. Protest leaders say the civilian council would form a transitional government to rule Sudan for a four-year term, followed by elections. "All we hope for is to be ruled by civilians and get rid of the military rule," said protester Ehsan Abdallah. The military council has made some concessions to the protesters by agreeing to demands such as detaining Bashir and releasing many political prisoners and demonstrators.

Sudan protest leaders halt talks with military

Sudan's army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said Sunday that more than 113 million dollars worth of cash in three currencies has been seized from ousted leader Omar al-Bashir's residence.

He said a team of police, army and security agents found seven million euros (US $7.8 million), US $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds (USD105 million) during a search at Bashir's home.

Sudan's new acting prosecutor general Al-Waleed Sayyed Ahmed meanwhile asked authorities to register all private properties belonging to officials of the previous regime, the official SUNA news agency reported.

He also asked them to stop processing requests for the transfer of ownership of properties that belonged to former regime officials and members of their families. 
&nbsp;

Sudan's army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said Sunday that more than 113 million dollars worth of cash in three currencies has been seized from ousted leader Omar al-Bashir's residence.

Sudan's army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said Sunday that more than 113 million dollars worth of cash in three currencies has been seized from ousted leader Omar al-Bashir's residence. He said a team of police, army and security agents found seven million euros (US $7.8 million), US $350,000 and five billion Sudanese pounds (USD105 million) during a search at Bashir's home. Sudan's new acting prosecutor general Al-Waleed Sayyed Ahmed meanwhile asked authorities to register all private properties belonging to officials of the previous regime, the official SUNA news agency reported. He also asked them to stop processing requests for the transfer of ownership of properties that belonged to former regime officials and members of their families.

Cash worth $113 mn seized at Bashir's home: Sudan army ruler

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sudanese-demand-civilian-government-after-bashirs-fall-209924">Sudanese authorities </a>have arrested several top members of the former ruling party of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, in a move that could bolster military rulers who are under mounting pressure by protesters to hand power to civilians.

In another part of a widening crackdown designed to remove remnants of Bashir's rule, the transitional military council (TMC) said it will retire all eight of the officers ranked lieutenant general in the National Intelligence and Security Service.

Opposition groups had demanded that the security agencies be restructured.

Sudan's public prosecutor has begun investigating Bashir on charges of money laundering and possession of large sums of foreign currency without legal grounds, a judicial source said earlier on Saturday.

SUITCASES LOADED WITH CASH

The source said military intelligence officers who searched Bashir's home found suitcases loaded with more than $351,000 and six million euros, as well as five million Sudanese pounds.

"The chief public prosecutor ... ordered the (former) president detained and quickly questioned in preparation to put him on trial," the judicial source told Reuters.

"The public prosecution will question the former president in Kobar prison," the source said. Bashir has not been questioned yet, the source added. Two of his brothers were also detained on allegations of corruption, the source said.

Relatives could not immediately be reached on Saturday for comment about the investigation.

Separately, a source in Bashir's National Congress Party said authorities arrested the acting party head Ahmed Haroun, former first vice president Ali Osman Taha, former Bashir aide Awad al-Jaz, the secretary general of the Islamic movement Al-Zubair Ahmed Hassan and former parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Taher.

The source also said parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omar and presidential aide Nafie Ali Nafie were under house arrest.

HIGH-SECURITY PRISON

Bashir, who is also being sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations of genocide in Sudan's western Darfur region, was ousted on April 11 by the military following months of protests against his rule and had been held at a presidential residence.

His family said this week that the former president had been moved to the high-security Kobar prison in Khartoum.

Hassan Bashir, a professor of political science at the University of Neelain, said the measures against Bashir are intended as a message to other figures associated with his rule that they are not above the law.

"The trial is a step that the military council wants to take to satisfy the protesters by presenting al-Bashir for trial," he said.

Bashir survived several armed rebellions, economic crises, and attempts by the West to turn him into a pariah during his 30-year rule before he was toppled in a military coup.

At a sit-in outside Sudan's Ministry of Defence that began on April 6, protesters, who sleep on the pavement, stood besides posters of Bashir that called on the ICC to put him on trial.

Sudanese authorities have arrested several top members of the former ruling party of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, in a move that could bolster military rulers who are under mounting pressure by protesters to hand power to civilians.

Sudanese authorities have arrested several top members of the former ruling party of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, in a move that could bolster military rulers who are under mounting pressure by protesters to hand power to civilians. In another part of a widening crackdown designed to remove remnants of Bashir's rule, the transitional military council (TMC) said it will retire all eight of the officers ranked lieutenant general in the National Intelligence and Security Service. Opposition groups had demanded that the security agencies be restructured. Sudan's public prosecutor has begun investigating Bashir on charges of money laundering and possession of large sums of foreign currency without legal grounds, a judicial source said earlier on Saturday. SUITCASES LOADED WITH CASH The source said military intelligence officers who searched Bashir's home found suitcases loaded with more than $351,000 and six million euros, as well as five million Sudanese pounds. "The chief public prosecutor ... ordered the (former) president detained and quickly questioned in preparation to put him on trial," the judicial source told Reuters. "The public prosecution will question the former president in Kobar prison," the source said. Bashir has not been questioned yet, the source added. Two of his brothers were also detained on allegations of corruption, the source said. Relatives could not immediately be reached on Saturday for comment about the investigation. Separately, a source in Bashir's National Congress Party said authorities arrested the acting party head Ahmed Haroun, former first vice president Ali Osman Taha, former Bashir aide Awad al-Jaz, the secretary general of the Islamic movement Al-Zubair Ahmed Hassan and former parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Taher. The source also said parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omar and presidential aide Nafie Ali Nafie were under house arrest. HIGH-SECURITY PRISON Bashir, who is also being sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations of genocide in Sudan's western Darfur region, was ousted on April 11 by the military following months of protests against his rule and had been held at a presidential residence. His family said this week that the former president had been moved to the high-security Kobar prison in Khartoum. Hassan Bashir, a professor of political science at the University of Neelain, said the measures against Bashir are intended as a message to other figures associated with his rule that they are not above the law. "The trial is a step that the military council wants to take to satisfy the protesters by presenting al-Bashir for trial," he said. Bashir survived several armed rebellions, economic crises, and attempts by the West to turn him into a pariah during his 30-year rule before he was toppled in a military coup. At a sit-in outside Sudan's Ministry of Defence that began on April 6, protesters, who sleep on the pavement, stood besides posters of Bashir that called on the ICC to put him on trial.

Sudanese authorities arrest members of Bashir's party: Source

Huge crowds formed outside Sudan's defence ministry on Thursday, joining a sit-in protest to demand that the country's transitional military council hand power to civilians.

Hundreds of thousands packed the streets by early evening - the largest crowds to gather in the centre of the capital since last week, when former President Omar al-Bashir was ousted and the military council took over.

Protesters chanted "Freedom and revolution are the choice of the people" and "Civilian rule, civilian rule", and waved national flags. Giant screens showed a film documenting apparent abuses by the security services.

"We will remain in the street until power is handed to civilian authority," said 24-year-old protester Samia Abdallah. "We will bring down military rule."

The council has said it is ready to meet some of the protesters' demands, including fighting corruption, but has indicated that it would not hand over power to protest leaders.

It has said that a transitional period of up to two years will be followed by elections and that it is ready to work with anti-Bashir activists and opposition groups to form an interim civilian government.

"We are completely committed to handing over power within a maximum two years," one of the members of the council, Lieutenant General Salah Abdelkhalek, told state TV on Thursday.

"Perhaps the most difficult issue facing the military council now through its political committee is getting agreement from the political spectrum and the community forces on the naming of a prime minister," Abdelkhalek said. "The ball is in their court."

GULF RIVALRY

The head of the 10-man military council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy are known for their ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, through Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Late on Thursday, the council's spokesman said an undersecretary at Sudan's foreign ministry had been dismissed over a statement from the ministry that had said preparations were under way for the visit of a delegation from Qatar, the regional rival of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Spokesman Shams El Din Kabbashi said the ministry had made the statement without consulting the council, state news agency SUNA reported.

The sit-in that began on April 6 outside the defence ministry in Khartoum was the culmination of 16 weeks of protests triggered by a worsening economic crisis in Sudan, leading to Bashir being ousted and arrested after three decades in power.

Sudanese have been struggling with sharp price rises and shortages of cash and basic products. Many analysts blame the country's economic troubles on mismanagement, corruption and the impact of US&nbsp;sanctions, as well as loss of oil revenue when South Sudan seceded in 2011.

In 2017 the US lifted trade sanctions but kept Sudan on its state sponsors of terrorism list, depriving it of debt relief from international lenders.

On Thursday the United States expressed its support for a democratic transition in Sudan, saying it was encouraged by the release of political prisoners and the cancellation of a curfew.

It said Washington's policies toward Sudan would be based on "our assessment of events on the ground and the actions of transitional authorities."

Huge crowds formed outside Sudan's defence ministry on Thursday, joining a sit-in protest to demand that the country's transitional military council hand power to civilians.

Huge crowds formed outside Sudan's defence ministry on Thursday, joining a sit-in protest to demand that the country's transitional military council hand power to civilians. Hundreds of thousands packed the streets by early evening - the largest crowds to gather in the centre of the capital since last week, when former President Omar al-Bashir was ousted and the military council took over. Protesters chanted "Freedom and revolution are the choice of the people" and "Civilian rule, civilian rule", and waved national flags. Giant screens showed a film documenting apparent abuses by the security services. "We will remain in the street until power is handed to civilian authority," said 24-year-old protester Samia Abdallah. "We will bring down military rule." The council has said it is ready to meet some of the protesters' demands, including fighting corruption, but has indicated that it would not hand over power to protest leaders. It has said that a transitional period of up to two years will be followed by elections and that it is ready to work with anti-Bashir activists and opposition groups to form an interim civilian government. "We are completely committed to handing over power within a maximum two years," one of the members of the council, Lieutenant General Salah Abdelkhalek, told state TV on Thursday. "Perhaps the most difficult issue facing the military council now through its political committee is getting agreement from the political spectrum and the community forces on the naming of a prime minister," Abdelkhalek said. "The ball is in their court." GULF RIVALRY The head of the 10-man military council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy are known for their ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, through Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. Late on Thursday, the council's spokesman said an undersecretary at Sudan's foreign ministry had been dismissed over a statement from the ministry that had said preparations were under way for the visit of a delegation from Qatar, the regional rival of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Spokesman Shams El Din Kabbashi said the ministry had made the statement without consulting the council, state news agency SUNA reported. The sit-in that began on April 6 outside the defence ministry in Khartoum was the culmination of 16 weeks of protests triggered by a worsening economic crisis in Sudan, leading to Bashir being ousted and arrested after three decades in power. Sudanese have been struggling with sharp price rises and shortages of cash and basic products. Many analysts blame the country's economic troubles on mismanagement, corruption and the impact of US sanctions, as well as loss of oil revenue when South Sudan seceded in 2011. In 2017 the US lifted trade sanctions but kept Sudan on its state sponsors of terrorism list, depriving it of debt relief from international lenders. On Thursday the United States expressed its support for a democratic transition in Sudan, saying it was encouraged by the release of political prisoners and the cancellation of a curfew. It said Washington's policies toward Sudan would be based on "our assessment of events on the ground and the actions of transitional authorities."

Protesters converge on Sudan defence ministry to demand civilian rule

The United States will not remove <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-interim-military-council-fires-top-three-public-prosecutors-211057">Sudan </a>from the state sponsor of terrorism list until the country's leadership and policies change and the military no longer holds power, a US&nbsp;official said on Tuesday.

"We will be willing to look at removing Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism if there is significant change in the country's leadership and policies," the State Department official told Reuters.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-what-next-for-sudan-after-bashirs-fall-211032">Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall?</a>

The Trump administration suspended talks on normalising relations with Sudan after the military deposed veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week saying it would oversee a two-year transition, followed by elections.

The move was rejected by street protesters, who for weeks maintained pressure on Bashir to step down, and called on the military to hand over power to civilians.

Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 under former US President Bill Clinton, cutting it off from financial markets and strangling its economy.

Washington lifted a 20-year trade embargo against Sudan in 2017 and was in the process of discussions on removing it from the US terror list when the military stepped in on April 11 to depose Bashir, who ruled Sudan for 30 years.

The Trump administration suspended the next round of the talks, scheduled for the end of April after the military took control.

"It is important that the will of the people is respected, and that Sudanese people be allowed a peaceful transition," the official said, adding that lifting the designation at this time was "out of the question" and restrictions remain in place.

Ihab Osman, chairman of the US-Sudan Business Council, said it was important that the United States and its allies, Britain and France, maintain pressure on the military to hand over power to an interim civilian government.

Osman told Reuters in an interview the United States should also look at ways to support the rebuilding of Sudan's economy, which has been crippled by decades of isolation under US-sanctions, as well as economic mismanagement and corruption under Bashir.

He said while the US-Sudanese relationship has largely been defined by counter-terrorism cooperation, there also "has to be something in it for the Sudanese people."

"We are not asking the United States to do the heavy lifting, or bankroll Sudan, but we need it to send the right signals," said Osman, acknowledging the suspension of US-Sudan talks.

The United States will not remove Sudan from the state sponsor of terrorism list until the country's leadership and policies change and the military no longer holds power, a US official said on Tuesday.

The United States will not remove Sudan from the state sponsor of terrorism list until the country's leadership and policies change and the military no longer holds power, a US official said on Tuesday. "We will be willing to look at removing Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism if there is significant change in the country's leadership and policies," the State Department official told Reuters. Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall? The Trump administration suspended talks on normalising relations with Sudan after the military deposed veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week saying it would oversee a two-year transition, followed by elections. The move was rejected by street protesters, who for weeks maintained pressure on Bashir to step down, and called on the military to hand over power to civilians. Sudan was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 under former US President Bill Clinton, cutting it off from financial markets and strangling its economy. Washington lifted a 20-year trade embargo against Sudan in 2017 and was in the process of discussions on removing it from the US terror list when the military stepped in on April 11 to depose Bashir, who ruled Sudan for 30 years. The Trump administration suspended the next round of the talks, scheduled for the end of April after the military took control. "It is important that the will of the people is respected, and that Sudanese people be allowed a peaceful transition," the official said, adding that lifting the designation at this time was "out of the question" and restrictions remain in place. Ihab Osman, chairman of the US-Sudan Business Council, said it was important that the United States and its allies, Britain and France, maintain pressure on the military to hand over power to an interim civilian government. Osman told Reuters in an interview the United States should also look at ways to support the rebuilding of Sudan's economy, which has been crippled by decades of isolation under US-sanctions, as well as economic mismanagement and corruption under Bashir. He said while the US-Sudanese relationship has largely been defined by counter-terrorism cooperation, there also "has to be something in it for the Sudanese people." "We are not asking the United States to do the heavy lifting, or bankroll Sudan, but we need it to send the right signals," said Osman, acknowledging the suspension of US-Sudan talks.

Washington will not remove Sudan from terror list while military rules: US official

The head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council has fired the three highest-ranking public prosecutors, the TMC said on Tuesday, after protesters demanded an overhaul of the judiciary as part of steps toward civilian government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-what-next-for-sudan-after-bashirs-fall-211032">Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall?</a>

The Sudanese Professionals' Association spearheading the revolt has issued a long list of demands for wholesale change to end repression and ease an economic crisis after the military deposed veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week.

In a statement, the TMC said council chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had sacked <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-new-military-ruler-general-abdel-fattah-al-burhan-sacks-prosecutor-general-210978">chief prosecutor Omar Ahmed Mohamed Abdelsalam</a> and deputy public prosecutor Hesham Othman Ibrahim Saleh, as well as head of public prosecutions Amer Ibrahim Majid.

Alwaleed Sayed Ahmed Mahmoud was appointed to carry out Abdelsalam's duties, it said. Mahmoud's background was not immediately known.

In its first news conference on Monday, the SPA - which led months of protests that led to Bashir's overthrow after 30 years in power - called for the TMC to be dissolved in favour of an interim civilian ruling council with military representatives.

It also called for Abdelsalam's removal along with the chief of the judiciary and his deputies, and added that mass protests would not cease until the demands were met. The judiciary chief was not mentioned in the TMC statement.

On Tuesday, hundreds of University of Khartoum professors carrying signs reading "civilian transitional government" and "democracy" marched to a protesters' sit-in outside the Defence Ministry that began on April 6, a Reuters witness said.

Academics are among the most respected groups in Sudanese society, adding powerful symbolism to the march.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called TMC head Burhan to offer his backing, a spokesman for Sisi said.

The spokesman said in a statement that Sisi had affirmed "Egypt's full support for the security and stability of Sudan and its support for the will and choices of the Sudanese people".

TMC member Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh met African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat in Addis Ababa and gave him a letter from Burhan on the situation in Sudan and inviting Mahamat to visit, the state news agency SUNA said.

It quoted Sheikh as saying Mahamat had expressed "understanding" for the decisions the TMC had taken so far.

The AU's Peace and Security Council on Monday called for the TMC to transfer power to a transitional civilian-led authority within 15 days or risk Sudan being suspended from the AU.

On Monday, Sheikh told a news conference in Addis Ababa, where the African Union is based, that the TMC was already in the process of picking a prime minister for civilian rule - ahead of elections promised within two years.

The head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council has fired the three highest-ranking public prosecutors, the TMC said on Tuesday, after protesters demanded an overhaul of the judiciary as part of steps toward civilian government.

The head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council has fired the three highest-ranking public prosecutors, the TMC said on Tuesday, after protesters demanded an overhaul of the judiciary as part of steps toward civilian government. Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall? The Sudanese Professionals' Association spearheading the revolt has issued a long list of demands for wholesale change to end repression and ease an economic crisis after the military deposed veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir last week. In a statement, the TMC said council chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had sacked chief prosecutor Omar Ahmed Mohamed Abdelsalam and deputy public prosecutor Hesham Othman Ibrahim Saleh, as well as head of public prosecutions Amer Ibrahim Majid. Alwaleed Sayed Ahmed Mahmoud was appointed to carry out Abdelsalam's duties, it said. Mahmoud's background was not immediately known. In its first news conference on Monday, the SPA - which led months of protests that led to Bashir's overthrow after 30 years in power - called for the TMC to be dissolved in favour of an interim civilian ruling council with military representatives. It also called for Abdelsalam's removal along with the chief of the judiciary and his deputies, and added that mass protests would not cease until the demands were met. The judiciary chief was not mentioned in the TMC statement. On Tuesday, hundreds of University of Khartoum professors carrying signs reading "civilian transitional government" and "democracy" marched to a protesters' sit-in outside the Defence Ministry that began on April 6, a Reuters witness said. Academics are among the most respected groups in Sudanese society, adding powerful symbolism to the march. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called TMC head Burhan to offer his backing, a spokesman for Sisi said. The spokesman said in a statement that Sisi had affirmed "Egypt's full support for the security and stability of Sudan and its support for the will and choices of the Sudanese people". TMC member Jalal al-Deen al-Sheikh met African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat in Addis Ababa and gave him a letter from Burhan on the situation in Sudan and inviting Mahamat to visit, the state news agency SUNA said. It quoted Sheikh as saying Mahamat had expressed "understanding" for the decisions the TMC had taken so far. The AU's Peace and Security Council on Monday called for the TMC to transfer power to a transitional civilian-led authority within 15 days or risk Sudan being suspended from the AU. On Monday, Sheikh told a news conference in Addis Ababa, where the African Union is based, that the TMC was already in the process of picking a prime minister for civilian rule - ahead of elections promised within two years.

Sudan's interim military council fires top three public prosecutors

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/sudan-can-avoid-past-mistakes-by-drawing-lessons-from-its-history-210866">Sudan's Omar al-Bashir </a>has been ousted after three decades in power following months of mass protests. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-new-military-ruler-general-abdel-fattah-al-burhan-sacks-prosecutor-general-210978">military</a> has announced a transitional period of up to two years followed by elections, but demonstrators are pushing for a quick handover of power to civilians.

HOW DID BASHIR FALL?

Bashir, 75, was one of the longest-serving leaders in Africa and the Arab world. He took power in a coup in 1989 and had survived isolation from the West, civil wars, the split between Sudan and South Sudan, indictment by the International Criminal Court, and several previous bouts of protest.

But in December, a worsening economic crisis triggered protests that quickly spread across the country of 40 million, calling for Bashir to go. The protests continued for 16 weeks despite a security crackdown in which dozens died and thousands were detained.

On April 6, protesters stepped up the pressure with a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum. Riot police and intelligence services tried to clear the area, but the army shielded them before announcing Bashir's overthrow on April 11.

Despite Bashir's close ties to the military's top leadership, mid- and lower-ranking officers more connected to society sympathised with the protesters' demands, said Hamid Eltigani, a Sudanese professor of public policy at the American University in Cairo.

As pressure from the street mounted, factions within the security establishment distanced themselves from Bashir as they sought to protect their positions, he said.

One Sudanese military officer said a deal was struck within the military leadership. "The faces had to be changed, and they all decided to change them without any bloodshed."

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

The appointment of defence minister and vice-president Awad Ibn Auf as head of the Transitional Military Council fuelled widespread anger among protesters because of his close association with Bashir.

He survived just 24 hours, stepping down late on Friday. Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, better known as Salah Gosh, resigned as the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) the following day.

Long considered the second most powerful man in the country after Bashir, Salah Gosh was another key target for the protesters.

WHO'S IN CONTROL NOW?

Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan replaced Ibn Auf as head of the military council. Burhan was the third most senior general in the Sudanese military and is little known publicly. As chief of Sudan's ground forces he oversaw Sudanese troops fighting in the Saudi-led Yemen war and has close ties to senior Gulf military officials.

Burhan's deputy is Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known by his nickname Hemedti, who heads Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. The RSF is a paramilitary grouping that grew out of the Janjaweed militias that fought in Darfur and has provided troops to fight in Yemen.

Other members of the 10-man military council include a NISS representative and the chief of police.

A Sudanese source close to Sudan's military leadership said the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt had a role in planning "the removal of Bashir and General Ibn Auf and Salah Gosh" as part of a strategy of "weakening the power of the Islamists in power in Sudan".

Bashir came to power in an Islamist-backed coup. He belonged to the Islamic Movement, Sudan's equivalent of the Muslim Brotherhood, and imposed Sharia law.

WHO SUPPORTS THE NEW LEADERSHIP?

The UAE, a leading member of the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, was quick to welcome Burhan's appointment and said it would look to accelerate aid to Sudan. Shortly after Burhan's nomination, Saudi Arabia said it would provide wheat, fuel and medicine to Sudan.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke by telephone to Burhan, the presidential palace said in a statement, offering Egyptian support for Sudan's stability.

Sudan's TMC also reported that a joint UAE-Saudi delegation visited Khartoum and met with Buhan and Hemedti conveying a message of the two countries' willingness to extend support for Sudan "important and historic stage."

The UAE and Saudi, which supported the toppling of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi in Egypt and have worked to counter Islamists linked to the Brotherhood across the region, are following the same goal in Sudan, said the Sudanese source.

"They want to use economic aid to encourage some power centres in Sudan to weaken the presence of Islamists and their full control over economic institutions."

The influence of their regional rivals Qatar and Turkey, which both had ties to Bashir, will be limited, said the Sudanese military officer. "It was a tug of war, and right now UAE and Saudi won," he said.

Hemedti has received of Western diplomatic envoys, several of whom say they have pressed him to ensure a rapid transition to civilian rule. The British ambassador said the meeting was "not to endorse or confer legitimacy". The Dutch envoy said the meeting was held at Hemedti's invitation.

HOW MUCH COULD THE MILITARY CONCEDE?

Burhan has promised a civilian government after consultations with the opposition, and announced an easing of emergency measures and the release of political detainees. But there has been little word from the military on protesters' demands for a civilian presence in the ruling council, and for members of Bashir's entourage – some of whom face international sanctions and charges – to be held to account.

The military may be wary of ceding ground if it faces opposition from other parts of the security apparatus.

Bashir had the strongest links across different, overlapping branches of the security forces, which could start competing with each other now he's gone. While the RSF and the NISS are linked to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Islamists within Sudan's Popular Defence Forces have connections to Qatar, said Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University.

Military officers "basically wanted a soft landing for Bashir, and the army to be kept intact as an institution, and they have Egyptian backing in that strategy," said de Waal. "The problem is that the demands of the demonstrators are for democracy and they are the only people who want democracy. Nobody else wants democracy."

WHAT FATE FOR BASHIR?

When Ibn Auf announced Bashir's overthrow he said the former president had been detained. Sources told Reuters he was being held at the time under heavy guard at his residence.

The military council has said it will not extradite him, but may try him in Sudan.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010 on suspicion of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In his final years as president he defied the court, visiting friendly nations including several ICC member states.

Sudan and Bashir denied war crimes were committed, saying casualties in Darfur were exaggerated.

Some have speculated that he could follow the example of Tunisia's former leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and seek refuge in Saudi Arabia.

Sudan's Omar al-Bashir has been ousted after three decades in power following months of mass protests. The military has announced a transitional period of up to two years followed by elections, but demonstrators are pushing for a quick handover of power to civilians.

Sudan's Omar al-Bashir has been ousted after three decades in power following months of mass protests. The military has announced a transitional period of up to two years followed by elections, but demonstrators are pushing for a quick handover of power to civilians. HOW DID BASHIR FALL? Bashir, 75, was one of the longest-serving leaders in Africa and the Arab world. He took power in a coup in 1989 and had survived isolation from the West, civil wars, the split between Sudan and South Sudan, indictment by the International Criminal Court, and several previous bouts of protest. But in December, a worsening economic crisis triggered protests that quickly spread across the country of 40 million, calling for Bashir to go. The protests continued for 16 weeks despite a security crackdown in which dozens died and thousands were detained. On April 6, protesters stepped up the pressure with a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum. Riot police and intelligence services tried to clear the area, but the army shielded them before announcing Bashir's overthrow on April 11. Despite Bashir's close ties to the military's top leadership, mid- and lower-ranking officers more connected to society sympathised with the protesters' demands, said Hamid Eltigani, a Sudanese professor of public policy at the American University in Cairo. As pressure from the street mounted, factions within the security establishment distanced themselves from Bashir as they sought to protect their positions, he said. One Sudanese military officer said a deal was struck within the military leadership. "The faces had to be changed, and they all decided to change them without any bloodshed." WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? The appointment of defence minister and vice-president Awad Ibn Auf as head of the Transitional Military Council fuelled widespread anger among protesters because of his close association with Bashir. He survived just 24 hours, stepping down late on Friday. Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, better known as Salah Gosh, resigned as the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) the following day. Long considered the second most powerful man in the country after Bashir, Salah Gosh was another key target for the protesters. WHO'S IN CONTROL NOW? Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan replaced Ibn Auf as head of the military council. Burhan was the third most senior general in the Sudanese military and is little known publicly. As chief of Sudan's ground forces he oversaw Sudanese troops fighting in the Saudi-led Yemen war and has close ties to senior Gulf military officials. Burhan's deputy is Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known by his nickname Hemedti, who heads Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. The RSF is a paramilitary grouping that grew out of the Janjaweed militias that fought in Darfur and has provided troops to fight in Yemen. Other members of the 10-man military council include a NISS representative and the chief of police. A Sudanese source close to Sudan's military leadership said the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt had a role in planning "the removal of Bashir and General Ibn Auf and Salah Gosh" as part of a strategy of "weakening the power of the Islamists in power in Sudan". Bashir came to power in an Islamist-backed coup. He belonged to the Islamic Movement, Sudan's equivalent of the Muslim Brotherhood, and imposed Sharia law. WHO SUPPORTS THE NEW LEADERSHIP? The UAE, a leading member of the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, was quick to welcome Burhan's appointment and said it would look to accelerate aid to Sudan. Shortly after Burhan's nomination, Saudi Arabia said it would provide wheat, fuel and medicine to Sudan. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke by telephone to Burhan, the presidential palace said in a statement, offering Egyptian support for Sudan's stability. Sudan's TMC also reported that a joint UAE-Saudi delegation visited Khartoum and met with Buhan and Hemedti conveying a message of the two countries' willingness to extend support for Sudan "important and historic stage." The UAE and Saudi, which supported the toppling of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi in Egypt and have worked to counter Islamists linked to the Brotherhood across the region, are following the same goal in Sudan, said the Sudanese source. "They want to use economic aid to encourage some power centres in Sudan to weaken the presence of Islamists and their full control over economic institutions." The influence of their regional rivals Qatar and Turkey, which both had ties to Bashir, will be limited, said the Sudanese military officer. "It was a tug of war, and right now UAE and Saudi won," he said. Hemedti has received of Western diplomatic envoys, several of whom say they have pressed him to ensure a rapid transition to civilian rule. The British ambassador said the meeting was "not to endorse or confer legitimacy". The Dutch envoy said the meeting was held at Hemedti's invitation. HOW MUCH COULD THE MILITARY CONCEDE? Burhan has promised a civilian government after consultations with the opposition, and announced an easing of emergency measures and the release of political detainees. But there has been little word from the military on protesters' demands for a civilian presence in the ruling council, and for members of Bashir's entourage – some of whom face international sanctions and charges – to be held to account. The military may be wary of ceding ground if it faces opposition from other parts of the security apparatus. Bashir had the strongest links across different, overlapping branches of the security forces, which could start competing with each other now he's gone. While the RSF and the NISS are linked to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Islamists within Sudan's Popular Defence Forces have connections to Qatar, said Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University. Military officers "basically wanted a soft landing for Bashir, and the army to be kept intact as an institution, and they have Egyptian backing in that strategy," said de Waal. "The problem is that the demands of the demonstrators are for democracy and they are the only people who want democracy. Nobody else wants democracy." WHAT FATE FOR BASHIR? When Ibn Auf announced Bashir's overthrow he said the former president had been detained. Sources told Reuters he was being held at the time under heavy guard at his residence. The military council has said it will not extradite him, but may try him in Sudan. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010 on suspicion of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In his final years as president he defied the court, visiting friendly nations including several ICC member states. Sudan and Bashir denied war crimes were committed, saying casualties in Darfur were exaggerated. Some have speculated that he could follow the example of Tunisia's former leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and seek refuge in Saudi Arabia.

Explainer: What next for Sudan after Bashir's fall?

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