Sudan protest: Tear gas fired in bid to break up Khartoum sit-in

Security forces in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, have moved in to try to break up thousands of demonstrators calling for President Omar al-Bashir to resign.

Tear gas was fired from pick up trucks on the second night of a sit-in.

One protester told the BBC some in the military intervened to try to chase the security forces away, suggesting divisions among the armed forces.

Mr Bashir has so far refused demands to step down and make way for a transitional government.

One protester told the BBC’s Newsday that a number of pick-up trucks arrived and began firing tear gas and live ammunition at the thousands of sit-in protesters.

She said the military was at first neutral but then tried to chase the security forces away.

It is unclear who the security forces were but BBC Africa editor Fergal Keane says reports indicate they were from the national intelligence service and a state militia.

The eyewitness said the security forces returned for a second attack and people then ran towards a navy facility to seek shelter from the prolonged firing.

Another eyewitness spoke of crowds forcing the attackers to flee.

There are unconfirmed reports of casualties from the scene.

One resident of a district 5km (3 miles) away told Reuters the tear gas could be felt there.

How did this protest begin?

It started on Friday when protesters descended on the zone outside Sudan’s army headquarters to call for Mr Bashir’s removal.

It was the biggest protest against the president since unrest began in December and marked the 34th anniversary of the coup that overthrew the regime of former President Jaafar Nimeiri.

The demonstrators appear to be hoping for an internal coup, pleading with the army command to remove Mr Bashir and open the way for a transitional government.

The police say only one person has died in the latest protests – in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city – but social media reports suggest at least five protesters have been killed.

Since the unrest began, Human Rights Watch says protest-related violence has killed 51 people, although officials put the figure at 32, Agence France-Presse reports.

Why are people protesting?

The protests were originally sparked by a hike in the cost of living but demonstrators are now calling for the president, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, to go.

Sudan’s economy has long been strained since the US imposed sanctions more than 20 years ago, accusing Khartoum of sponsoring terror groups.

Source: bbc