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Sudanese demonstrators gathered in front of the army headquarters in Khartoum, the capital, for three consecutive days, in the biggest rally organized since the beginning of demonstrations against the government of President Omar al-Bashir in December. By STRINGER (AFP)
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has come under increasing pressure as three Western countries have called for a political transition plan after weeks of unprecedented protests against his power.
Bashir, who has been leading Sudan's iron fist since he came to power in 1989 during a coup by the Islamist-backed state, is fighting the biggest challenge of his 30-year reign since December, when at which national demonstrations broke out against his government.
Thousands of angry protesters chanting "overthrow, overthrow" have been on the streets of the capital and towns and villages across the country, accusing the veteran leader of the worsening economic crisis in the country.
But the protest movement peaked on Saturday when protesters stole flushes of tear gas to reach the country's army headquarters, calling on top-ranking army officers to support them.
Protesters were preparing for Tuesday night camping for the fourth consecutive night in the complex, which also houses the residence of Bashir, singing revolutionary songs and anti-government slogans.
At the same time, the soldiers foiled repeated attempts by the intelligence and security service agents to disperse the protesters with tear gas, witnesses said.
And on Tuesday, the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway for the first time showed themselves behind the protesters, calling for a credible political transition plan in Sudan.
"The time has come for the Sudanese authorities to respond seriously and credibly to these popular demands," the embbadies of the three countries said in a joint statement.
"The Sudanese authorities must now react and present a credible plan for this political transition."
Washington had imposed on Sudan, in 1997, one of the most severe trade embargoes for alleged links to Khartoum with Islamist groups. The embargo was lifted only in October 2017.
The pressure on Bashir further increased when the country's police, a key element of the security forces, on Tuesday ordered its members not to intervene against the protesters.
"We call on God to preserve the security and calm of our country … and to unite the people of Sudan … for an agreement that would support the peaceful transition of power," a police spokesman said in a statement. .
He added that the police had "ordered all his forces" not to "intervene against the citizens or peaceful bademblies".
The latest demonstration on Saturday in the sprawling military complex is the largest ever since protests sparked by a three-fold increase in the price of bread in December.
Defying despite tear gas
Key dates in the life of Omar al-Bashir, leader of Sudan since 1989. By (AFP) On Tuesday, security agents fired tear gas at protesters twice to end their sit-ins, the organizer said.
"Shots of tear gas were fired, after which army soldiers opened the doors of the complex to allow protesters to enter," said a witness to AFP.
"A few minutes later, a group of soldiers fired shots in the air to fend off security forces firing tear gas."
A second witness stated that soldiers had intervened against the security guards.
Since the protests erupted, the military has been sidelined even though security agents and riot police have cracked down on their actions.
The protesters called on the army to protect them from the deadly crackdown during their four days of encampment in front of his headquarters.
On Tuesday, you could see the crowds lifting the airborne on their shoulders and dancing and singing with them.
A photo of a woman dressed in a long white dress, wearing gold earrings and singing standing on Monday at the top of a car while she was surrounded by protesters has become viral on social networks.
A Sudanese protester in front of the Army headquarters shows bullet cartridges that he has collected. The National Intelligence and Security Service and the riot police cracked down on protesters, but the army did not intervene. By STRINGER (AFP) Images obtained by AFP in Paris showed that security agents were also firing in the air to release the sit-in Monday, an operation that had to be abandoned after the troops' intervention.
Soldiers can be seen firing machine guns as protesters gather, some sheltering behind army vehicles and chanting "Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)".
& # 39; No chaos & # 39;
The defense minister, General Awad Ibnouf, promised that the army would prevent any tipping into chaos.
According to the Sudanese authorities, 38 people have died in demonstrations of violence since December. By STRINGER (AFP) "The Sudanese armed forces understand the reasons for the demonstrations and do not oppose the demands and aspirations of the citizens, but they will not allow the country to sink into chaos," Ibnouf said on Monday, according to official media reports.
The coordinating group that runs the protests has launched an appeal to the army to discuss the formation of a transitional government.
Omar el-Digeir, a prominent member of the group, said the protest organizers had formed a council to open talks to agree on a "transitional government representing the wish for the revolution."
According to officials, 38 people have died in demonstrations of violence since December.
Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for war crimes and genocide, linked to the crackdown on a rebellion by the 16-year-old ethnic minority in the western Darfur region today.
He responded to the demonstrations with harsh measures, including an emergency, after the arrest of protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists.
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