Latest news: United Nations human rights office wants observers in Sudan



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KHARTOUM, Sudan – Latest news on developments in Sudan (from all local times):

5:20 p.m.

The UN human rights office said that a surveillance team should be deployed quickly to Sudan to review allegations of violations during this week's military crackdown.

A spokesman said Friday that the US human rights office was seeking the cooperation of the Sudanese government to deploy the monitoring mission.

The spokesman in Geneva said the United States was "gravely concerned" about the situation in Sudan after the deaths of more than 100 people this week.

The bureau urges the authorities to investigate the use of "excessive force" against protest camps, including the alleged involvement of the Rapid Support Forces and members linked to the atrocities committed in the Darfur region of Sudan.

The office says that "responsibility is crucial to prevent further bloodshed".

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4:05 p.m.

A leader of the Sudanese protest movement said his group and the Ethiopian Prime Minister had exchanged proposals on how to resolve the ongoing conflict with the ruling military council in Sudan.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is visiting Sudan to mediate between protesters and the army. The meeting takes place in a context of deadly military crackdown on protesters, which is on its fourth day.

During a telephone interview with the Saudi Arabian satellite channel, the protest leader, Gaafar Hbadan, refused to reveal the details of the discussion, saying that they would be unveiled at a news conference. press conference. Hbadan is at the head of the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, a coalition of political groups representing the protesters.

Hbadan added that Abiy had listened to the protesters' version of the latest deadly events in Sudan, which left more than 113 dead and more than 500 wounded.

Hbadan reiterated the FDFC's strong objections to holding "direct" or "indirect" talks with the ruling military council, which took over the country after mbad demonstrations drove longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir out of power in April.

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3:35 p.m.

The office of the Ethiopian prime minister says he insisted on unity in his mediation efforts between the Sudanese ruling army and the leaders of the protest movement.

The office posted photos of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's smile with the leaders of the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, a coalition of political groups and parties representing the protesters.

He also had talks earlier Friday with General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, chairman of Sudan's ruling military council in Khartoum.

Abiy's office said that he had stressed that "a prerequisite for the restoration of peace in Sudan is unity."

The Ethiopian leader's visit comes one day after the continental body of the African Union, based in Ethiopia, suspended Sudan after the deadly crackdown this week against protesters.

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12:40

Sudanese protesters demand the dismantling of a paramilitary unit that they hold responsible for the violent repression of their rallies that have left more than 100 dead this week.

The forces for the declaration of freedom and change, a coalition of political groups representing the protesters, said in a statement Thursday that the rapid support forces should be disbanded and their weapons handed over to the army.

Paramilitary forces were created by Janjaweed militias in Darfur.

The opposition also reiterated its demand that the army immediately give power to civilians. The statement was announced before the arrival of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is hoping for mediation between the Sudanese army and the protesters.

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12:20

An badyst for Africa says he believes the Ethiopian reformist prime minister is "much more likely" than anyone to bring the two sides closer to the Sudan crisis.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is visiting Sudan on Friday to meet with the ruling army and the country's protesters.

Awol Allo, a law professor at Keele University in Britain, said that Mr Abiy "brings a lot to the table, because of his own experience of the complex transition to a huge amount of positive energy and weight of Ethiopian power in the region. "

Abiy took power in April 2018 and quickly announced radical political and economic reforms. He also took the lead in high-level diplomatic efforts in East Africa.

Awol said that while the Ethiopian leader had promised "non-interference" at a meeting with General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling military council, his visit to Khartoum on Friday is a reaction to the suspension of Sudan by the African Union. from the activities of the AU the day before.

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10:25

The US health agency is seriously concerned by the targeting of patients, medical personnel and facilities in Sudan during the military crackdown on protesters who have killed more than 100 people this week.

According to the World Health Organization, security forces are engaged in "incursions into hospitals in Khartoum", resulting in the closure of emergency and health services. Five patients and medical workers injured.

Friday's statement from WHO states that "these actions represent a total and unacceptable violation of international human rights law and must cease".

Tent clinics designed to treat injured protesters were set on fire and destroyed. looted medical equipment and attacked health workers. bad of health workers has also been reported.

The army launched a crackdown on Monday, dispersing the main sit-in of the protest movement in the capital, Khartoum. A Sudanese medical group said 113 people were killed in the crackdown.

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10:05

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is in Sudan to mediate between the ruling army and the leaders of the protest movement in the country amid a crackdown that left more than 100 dead this week.

Ahmed met with Sudanese generals who, in April, overthrew long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir and took over the country.

He will have separate talks later Friday with the Forces for the Declaration of Liberty and Change, a coalition of political groups calling for the transfer of military power to civilian rule.

His visit comes after the African Union, based in Ethiopia, suspended Sudan on Thursday because of the deadly crisis.

The army launched a crackdown on Monday, dispersing the main sit-in of the protest movement in the capital, Khartoum.

A Sudanese medical group said 113 people were killed in the crackdown.

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