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Thousands of people took to the streets of Sudanese cities, especially in the capital, where activists claimed that a child and a doctor had been killed in clashes between police and protesters demanding the end of the reign of 30 years of Omar al-Bashir.
Thursday's protests have been one of the most widespread troubles since the unrest began on 19 December.
The protests were triggered by rising prices and lack of liquidity, but quickly turned into demonstrations against Bashir.
In the most violent clashes of the day, Burri police in Khartoum fired rubber bullets and tear gas and chased protesters with batons, witnesses said. Several people were hit by tear gas, while some were injured by rubber bullets and others were beaten.
Hundreds of young men and women blocked streets and alleys with burning tires, and some threw stones at the security forces, witnesses said. Many chanted "down, that's it" to send the message that their only request is the fall of Bashir.
The protesters also provoked the security forces by expressing each time that a protester who was throwing stones hit the police, witnesses said.
A live video posted on social media and verified by Reuters showed that security forces were pointing weapons at protesters in Burri. The sound of gunshots could be heard.
In the video, a protester shouted "Why are you shooting?" As protesters, some wearing masks to protect themselves from tear gas, bent down to avoid shooting. It was not clear whether real or rubber bullets were used. A man who appeared to be injured and had blood stains on his shirt was blown away.
"There were people shooting at us," a protester told Reuters. "They fired rubber bullets."
He said he saw five people collapse on the ground, adding that he was not sure he had been hit by rubber bullets or live ammunition. He said he saw a few more wounded being transported, but security forces blocked the area and prevented the wounded from going to the hospital.
Instead, they were treated in an improvised emergency room inside a house. At one point, security forces approached the makeshift clinic and fired tear gas during the treatment of the wounded, three witnesses said.
A police spokesperson could not be contacted immediately for comment.
Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Al Qadarif, Atbara, Port Sudan, Al Dueim and Al Ubayyid, calling tear gas to the police, witnesses said.
Security forces sometimes used live ammunition to disperse demonstrations. The official record is 24, including two members of the security forces. Amnesty International said more than 40 people were killed.
"We will continue to demonstrate until the fall of the government because we want to provide a better life for our children," said a 47-year-old teacher who demonstrated in downtown Khartoum.
Bashir blamed the protests on foreign "agents" and said the unrest would not lead to a change of government, challenging his opponents to seek power through the ballot box.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said she was deeply concerned by reports of excessive use of force by Sudanese security forces.
Sudan has experienced economic difficulties since the loss of three quarters of its oil production – its main source of foreign exchange – when South Sudan seceded in 2011, retaining the bulk of the oil fields.
The United States lifted the trade sanctions imposed on Sudan for 20 years in 2017. However, many investors continue to flee a country still clbadified by Washington as a sponsoring state for terrorism.
The International Criminal Court is looking for people for denying them the existence of genocide in the Darfur region.
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