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June 23, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Protesters continued to take the street in the Sudanese capital and different other towns for eighth day on Saturday as the police authorities warned they will be dealt with severely.
- A group of protesters burns tyres to lock a street in Khartoum (photo Al-Jazeera)
Khartoum, witnessed on Saturday demonstrations organized by hundreds of protesters in different areas of the capital including Jabra, Alsahafa, Khartoum-3, Alabbassiya, Umbada, Nile City, Al-Ozuzab, Shambat, Khartoum North-Alamlak. Protests were also organised in Kosti of White Nile state, Port Sudan, Gedaref and Al-Obeiyed capital of North Kordofan.
The protesters burned tyres, blocked the streets and chanted "the people want to overthrow the regime" leaving aside the anti-austerity slogans of the first days preparing Khartoum to experience what people used to watch in the TV from some Arab capitals.
The demonstrations in some areas of Omdurman and Khartoum and Khartoum North lasted up to the first hours of Sunday. While opposition sources reported the arrest of Satih Ahmed Al-Haj and Mohamed Dia-Edine of the Bath Party.
Activists also reported that police fired protesters in Al-Daim neighbourhood in Khartoum. They posted in the forums pictures of two youth allegedly injured by bullet in their legs and arms during a protest on Friday evening.
During the last week security services used teargas and batons to contain the student protests in the university campus and prevent it from taking the street.
Friday’s protest however changed the mobilisation as worshipers after Friday prayer participated in the protests.
Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) was seemingly confused by the protests because of the divisions among the party’s leadership over the lifting of oil subsidies also the visible lack of coordination among them on the economic measures affected their quick reaction.
However a NCP leading official told a Sudan Tribune journalist in Khartoum that the regime is able to resolve the "current security chaos" and revealed that security services received tough directives to counter the protests which he described as "limited and controllable".
The official who preferred to remain anonymous admitted the confusion that marred the performance of the ruling party during the past days and the absence of NCP officials from the media.
He however said the party held a series of meetings during the last 24 hours to determine a strategy to cope with the situation. He further said the party decided to hold political meetings to explain the security, economic, and political situation in the country.
He also denied rumours about the departure outside the country of some government officials with their families, reaffirming they will appear in the different meetings the party prepares to hold.
In the meantime, Khartoum state governor Abdel Rahman Al-Khidir denounced Saturday the burning of transportation buses and public buildings.
Khidir said the protesters set fire to two buses and a police car. He also said the rioters attempted to attack the Omdurman National Bank and police post in Al Sajjana neighbourhood.
Police general director general Hisham Osman El-Hussein, in a meeting held on Saturday, directed the police forces, according to the official SUNA, "to deal with riots as stipulated by the law, and at the same time to take decisive and strong measures to stop groups that target properties or plants or try to close the roads. "
The meeting with the police leadership, also discussed ways plans and measures to halt what they called "riots and sabotage".
(ST)
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