Sudan demonstrations continue for tenth consecutive day
19 killed since protests began, government says, while opposition puts death toll at closer to 40
Demonstrations in Khartoum continued for the tenth day in a row on Friday, with protesters decrying rampant inflation and acute bread shortages.
According to local witnesses, hundreds of protesters took to the streets across the capital after Friday prayers.
Security forces used teargas to disperse demonstrators, who chanted slogans against the regime of President Omar al-Bashir, witnesses said.
Similar demonstrations were reported on Friday in the cities of Atbara (River Nile State), Dinder (Sennar State) and Port Sudan (Red Sea State).
In a related development, the Umma Reform and Renewal Party, headed by Mubarak al-Fadil, announced its withdrawal from the Sudanese government.
“We pulled our representatives out of the cabinet to protest the use of violence against protesters and the ruling party’s failure to implement recommendations agreed upon as part of Sudan’s National Dialogue initiative,” the party said in a late Thursday statement.
Earlier the same day, Information Minister Bushara Gumaa put the number of people killed during 10 days of protests at 19, including two security personnel.
Opposition groups, for their part, say the death toll is closer to 40.
