Sudan: Ibn Auf resigns as chairman of the military council | New

The head of Sudan's ruling military council resigned in a speech broadcast live on state television, naming Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Burhan as his successor.

The announcement by General Awad Ibn Auf was announced late Friday, as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Khartoum, in the Sudanese capital, to demand a transition led by civilians after the war. overthrow of Omar al-Bashir's leader, his long-time leader.

"Me, the head of the military council, announces that I am giving up this post," said Ibn Auf, a day after the swearing-in of his post as chairman of the military transition council.

"It is for the benefit of our country, without having to consider particular interests, large or small, that could hinder its progress," he said in a brief statement. "I would like to recommend that you work together and come to a solution quickly."

Ibn Auf said confidently that Burhan "will direct the ship to safe coasts", and added that he was retiring to "preserve the unity" of the armed forces.

Protesters in Khartoum hailed the movement with "applause and cheers," said Hiba Morgan of Al Jazeera.

"People celebrate in the streets, they say they managed to overthrow President Omar al-Bashir after four months of demonstrations and less than 48 hours after the seizure of power by the military council, they have also succeeded in overthrowing Ibn Auf", she said. says of the capital.

Burhan, who was appointed chief of staff of al-Bashir and chief of land forces in February, did not have the "corrupt record" of that of other officials in the country. Al-Bashir era, she said, citing charges of war crimes against both men. the former president and his successor during the 2003-2008 war in the western region of Darfur, Sudan.

The new leader was one of the generals who made contact with the protesters at the week-long camp near Army Headquarters, meeting them face to face and listening to their views.

Morgan said Burhan should address the Sudanese public on Saturday.

"The protesters are waiting to see what kind of vision and plan Burhan has, [in order] to see if it will be the person they would like to represent during the transition period or whether they should continue their sit-in, "she added.

& # 39; Patience, sacrifice & # 39;

Protesters in Khartoum told Al Jazeera that the overthrow of Al-Bashir and the resignation of Ibn Auf within 36 hours were the result of "patience, sacrifices and a four-month struggle".

"We now want to witness the transfer of power to civilians, this is the … democracy and freedom we were aiming to achieve," said 60-year-old Abdul Jabar Ibrahim.

The Sudanese Professionals' Association (ASP), which spearheaded the protests that lasted several months and triggered the overthrow of Al-Bashir on Thursday, welcomed The departure of Ibn Auf as "triumph of the will of the mbades".

However, he called on the residents of Khartoum to continue their extended sit-in in front of the army headquarters, in defiance of the night-time curfew imposed by the army, until it was over. they are calling for a transitional government led by civilians and democratic reforms, as stated in January of the Declaration of Freedom and Change, have been fulfilled.

They called for a "total strike until the complete transfer of power" and urged supporters elsewhere in the country to go down the streets outside the various posts of the army "until these demands are fully implemented".

Sudanese demonstrator holds up a sign saying in Arabic "Revolutionaries, free, will continue the course" [Ashraf Shazly/AFP]

The resignation of Ibn Auf comes hours after a spokesman for the military council promised to hold talks with all political groups in Sudan and said that he had no "ambition to hold the reins of power".

The council was "ready to withdraw as soon as a month if a government is formed," said board member Omar Zain al-Abideen.

Sudan's military council has also asked all the country's "political forces" will appoint two representatives here Saturday for a dialogue on the country's transition, according to the SUNA news agency, adding time for the meeting would be fixed once he has received the names of all groups.

The Sudanese envoy to the United Nations, Yasir Abdelsalam, reiterated this feeling before the Security Council meeting on Sudan. He added that the military council would be the "guarantor of a civilian government", "no party" being excluded.

The Security Council, which met in camera, has not announced any action on Sudan, but its president said the 15 members were in agreement to closely monitor the events in the country. this country.

At the same time, Michele Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged the Sudanese authorities to "refrain from using force against peaceful protesters" and called for the release of all those arrested for demonstrating.

Earlier Friday, al-Abideen said the military council wanted to "create an atmosphere to manage a peaceful dialogue ", but warned protesters that "chaos will not be tolerated", however.

According to activists, many pro-democracy protesters have been killed by the much-feared security services in Sudan since demonstrations began in December, under the impetus of anger on rising prices of bread.

The demonstrations quickly evolved into wider calls to al-Bashir and and his policy entourage give up power.