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Sudanese protesters are gathering in Khartoum as the army claims to have overthrown Omar al-Bashir, one of Africa's oldest presidents. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)
The Sudanese army on Thursday chased veteran president Omar al-Bashir, but protesters against his hand-in-hand government quickly rejected a "coup d'etat" and promised to continue to gather despite the curfew imminent.
In a dark, televised speech, Defense Minister Awad Ibnouf announced "the overthrow of the regime" and said that Bashir was arrested in "a safe place", ending his three decades of power.
A transitional military council will replace the president for two years, he added, adding that the country's borders and airspace were closed until further notice.
He also imposed a curfew at 22:00 (Paris time) that the army then warned not to challenge the public, even as thousands of protesters continued their rally in front of the headquarters. army Thursday night.
Chronology of major developments in Sudan leading to the end of President Omar al-Bashir's 30-year reign. By Gal ROMA (AFP) Bashir, who came to power during the 1989 coup, was one of the oldest presidents of Africa. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes of genocide and war crimes.
The organizers of the demonstrations in Sudan since December have pledged to press until the regime is swept away.
The Alliance of Demonstrators for Freedom and Change said the regime had "made a military coup" and kept "the same faces" that the protesters wanted to expel.
He urged the protesters "to continue their sit-in in front of the army headquarters, in all regions and in the streets".
Thursday's announcement means "we got nothing," said Adel, a protester outside the army headquarters, where protesters bravely used tear gas and shots to hold a sit-in for six days.
"We will not stop our revolution, we are asking the regime to withdraw, not just Bashir," he said.
We have seen activists outside the compound urging others to stay overnight despite the curfew.
& # 39; We do not leave & # 39;
Huge crowds of jubilant Sudanese invaded squares in the center of the capital on Thursday as the army promised an "important announcement".
In chanting "the regime has fallen," they rushed to the outside of the military base.
But the festive mood is soured later.
"We do not leave, we do not leave, just fall and that's all," they shouted after the announcement of Ibnouf.
The protesters promised to continue demonstrating, sweeping aside all the old Sudanese regime. By – (AFP) The Sudanese Congress party, which is an opposition party, called for the creation of a mixed civilian and military council that would govern for a four-year transition period.
He also urged the army to give executive powers to civilians.
Washington echoed this call, urging Khartoum to "show restraint and leave room for civil participation in government."
"The Sudanese people must determine who is leading it and its future, the Sudanese people have been clear and demand a transition led by civilians," said spokesman Robert Palladino of the US State Department.
The UN chief, Antonio Guterres, called for a transition that meets the "democratic aspirations" of the Sudanese people and called for "calm and the utmost restraint of all," said his spokesman.
This took place after the African Union decried the military overthrow of Bashir, claiming that it was "not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan and to the aspirations of its people".
Army vehicles carrying troops were seen deploying in central Khartoum on Thursday morning.
Bashir led Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP / File) The troops raided the offices of the Islamic Movement, the ideological wing of the ruling National Congress party, Bashir, witnesses told AFP.
Martial music was broadcast on public television as soldiers ordered television to suspend its usual broadcasts before Ibnouf's announcement.
Outside the headquarters of the army, dozens of merry protesters stormed cruise vehicles and armored vehicles on Thursday morning to protect them from any intervention by other branches of the security forces.
Release of prisoners
The military council also said it declared a ceasefire throughout the country, including war-torn Darfur.
But fighting rebel fighting government forces of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA-AW) in Darfur denounced what she called a "coup d'etat in palaces".
At the same time, the national intelligence and security service fears that Sudan will release all political prisoners in the country, media reports said.
But in the eastern cities of Kasala and Port Sudan, the liberation failed, prompting protesters to storm the NISS buildings, witnesses said.
The protesters entered Thursday in their sixth night defiantly camped in front of the army headquarters complex in Khartoum, which also houses Bashir's official residence and the Ministry of Defense.
According to officials, 49 people have died in demonstrations of violence since demonstrations began in December.
Amnesty International's advocacy group said Bashir should now be handed over to the ICC so that "the victims of these unspeakable crimes can see justice done."
Neighboring Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power in similar circumstances, said Thursday that she supported the Sudanese people and the army in their political transition.
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