Bashir's ruling party postpones convention on Sudan

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's party decided on Saturday to postpone indefinitely its general convention which was to elect a new leader after the veteran leader entrusted the leadership of the party to his deputy.

The general convention of the National Congress Party (NCP), held once every four years, was scheduled for next month, but the exact dates were not announced.

"The party's shura council has decided to suspend the holding of the general convention for an indefinite period because of the current situation in the country," Mohamed el-Hbadan el-Amien, leader of the NCP, told the press.

Bashir, who normally attends meetings like the one on Saturday, was not present.

Since the month of December, deadly demonstrations have shaken Sudan. Protesters called for the end of Bashir's reign for three decades.

Bashir remained provocative and, on February 22, imposed a state of national emergency after an initial crackdown failed to suppress the protests.

But on March 1, he transferred his powers of chief of the NCP to his deputy, Ahmed Harun, appointing him acting leader until the general convention, where a new president of the NCP was to be elected.

Sudan is to hold its next presidential election in 2020 and, in accordance with the NCP's charter, the party leader becomes his candidate for the election.

The NCP was formed a few years after Bashir came to power in a coup d 'état backed by Islamists in 1989. He had been party leader until this month.

Protesters continue to hold regular protests that broke out for the first time on Dec. 19 after the government's decision to triple the price of bread.

The protests quickly turned into national rallies against the Bashir government, accusing it of mismanaging the country's economy.

According to officials, 31 people died in violence related to the protests, but Human Rights Watch has already brought the death toll to 51.