Dead as Sudanese protesters gather in front of army headquarters for the first time

A Sudanese protester died on Saturday as thousands of protesters marched to Khartoum, many of them reaching the army headquarters for the first time since the deadly demonstrations against President Omar al-Bashir in December.

After shouting "an army, a people", the protesters gathered in the streets of the capital following a call from the organizers to walk in the compound, which also houses the residence of Bashir and the Ministry of Defense.

The organizers announced earlier this week that demonstrators would gather to ask the army "to side with the people or the dictator".

The crowds chanted the cry of the movement movement "peace, justice, freedom," said the audience.

"We still have not achieved our goal, but we have conveyed our message to the military:" Join us, "told AFP protester Amir Omer.

"They called Bashir to withdraw," added another witness.

Adam Yagub, another 40-year-old protester, said Bashir "has ruined the country's economy so much that people are dying, even because of lack of medicine."

Police said that a protester had died in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital.

"There have been illegal rallies in Khartoum and in other states," police spokesman General Hashim Abdelrahim told the official SUNA news agency.

"The police recorded the death of a person during disturbances in Omdurman."

A committee of doctors who helped organize the demonstrations confirmed that the "martyr" was a doctor.

This means that the number of victims of violence related to demonstrations since December has increased to 32, according to officials.

Human Rights Watch estimated the death toll at 51, including children and doctors.

"Historic moment"

Shortly after reaching the army compound, the organizers called the protesters to stand in front of its fortified walls.

"At this historic moment, we ask you not to leave the army headquarters and organize a sit-in in the neighboring streets," said the organizers in a statement.

Since the beginning of the protests, security agents and riot police have cracked down on protesters, but the army has not intervened.

After a few hours, dozens of vehicles filled with riot police converged near the compound and fired tear gas at demonstrators to disperse them, witnesses said, adding that some demonstrators had thrown stones on the police.

Saturday, late, a crowd of protesters remained outside the complex, some singing and dancing.

"We will not leave this place until Bashir resigns," said a protester under cover of anonymity.

According to witnesses, many tired protesters have been replaced by newcomers, including families.

"Additional pressure on Bashir"

At a separate protest Saturday, protesters reached the army office in Madani, southeast of the capital, witnesses told AFP by phone.

"The participation today has been impressive," said a European diplomat under cover of anonymity.

"This puts additional pressure on Bashir and the regime and shows that the protest movement is not dying".

The demonstrations have rocked East Africa since December 19. Angry crowds have accused the Bashir government of mismanaging the economy, resulting in soaring food prices and a regular shortage of fuel and currency.

They broke out for the first time after the government's decision to triple the price of bread, but quickly degenerated into national rallies against the Bashir regime.

On February 22, the Chief Veteran imposed a statewide emergency to appease protests after an initial crackdown failed to contain the rallies.

Since the state of emergency came into effect, the protests have largely confined itself to the capital city and its twin city, Omdurman.

Call for dialogue

April 6 was chosen for the national rallies as it marked the 1985 uprising that overthrew the regime of President Jaafar Nimeiri.

"Although the opposition chose this symbolic date of April 6, the government security forces treated the citizens with respect," government spokesman Hbadan Ismail said in a statement.

"The government is determined to hold a dialogue because there is no other alternative."

Before the protests began, security forces deployed in large numbers in the main squares of Khartoum and Omdurman on the other side of the Nile.

Security officials prevented pbadersby from reaching downtown Khartoum and ordered the closure of shops and markets in the area, witnesses said.

Analysts say the move has become the biggest challenge yet to rule Bashir's three decades.

Bashir, wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and genocide in the war-torn Darfur region, was brought to power by a 1989 Islamist coup.

The veteran leader remained provocative, introducing harsh measures that helped stop protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists.