Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese, makes fun of Facebook

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir ridiculed the use of social media by his opponents to stage recent protests against his power.

"The change of government or presidents can not be done via WhatsApp or Facebook.This can only be done by elections," he told his supporters.

He spoke while new demonstrations took place in the capital, Khartoum.

The protests began in December over cuts to bread subsidies, but have since turned into anger at Bashir's regime.

The Sudanese government has said that 30 people have been killed in clashes since the beginning of the unrest. Human rights groups estimate more than 40 the death toll.

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What does President Bachir say?

Mr. Bashir took advantage of a rally of his supporters in the eastern city of Kbadala to mock his political opponents.

He said only elections could lead to a change of government.

"It is our commitment and our commitment to the Sudanese people.The decision is your right, the mbades of the Sudanese people," said the president.

The Sudanese authorities have tried to block social media in the country.

But a Khartoum doctor told the BBC earlier this week that people were bypbading the blockade using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which can hide a user's location.

In Kbadala, near the Eritrean border, Bashir also said that Sudan was reopening its border with Eritrea after a closure of about a year.

The eastern border was closed after Sudan declared an emergency state in two regions to fight against arms trafficking.

What's new on the events?

While Mr. Bashir was speaking in Kbadala, new rallies were held in the capital and elsewhere.

Riot police fired tear gas at the crowd in Khartoum, a witness told the AFP news agency.

Demonstrations also took place in several villages south of the capital.

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The events are led by the Sudanese Professionals' Association (ASP), which represents health workers, lawyers, teachers and others.

The protests have begun about reducing subsidies on bread and fuel, but protesters are now asking the 75-year-old president to resign.

Bashir, who has won the elections several times since he came to power following a coup in 1989, has reached a defiant tone.

On Wednesday, the Sudanese armed forces – who support the president – warned that they would not allow a collapse of the state.