February 10, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese authorities on Friday dispersed a small demonstration staged by a group of mothers who have their children still detained since ten days ago for taking part in protests against the government.

Sudanese riot police hold their shields and sticks as students clashed with police heeding calls to take to the streets for a day of nationwide, anti-government protests despite a heavy security deployment in the capital Khartoum, on January 30, 2011 (AFP)

The women congregated at the residence of opposition leader Mubarak Al-Fadil whose two sons are also among those being held by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

They then moved using their private cars towards the NISS HQ to hand a petition demanding the release of the detainees within 72 hours or alternatively bring them to fair trials.

If the authorities do not free them, the women plan to stage a sit-in in front of NISS HQ until the detainees are let go.

But Sudanese police quickly surrounded them, confiscating signs they had in their possession. They took some of the women with them and dropped them off in different parts of the capital, according to Al-Fadil’s wife Sumaya Habani.

Among those held briefly by the police was Mariam Al-Mahdi who is a leading figure in the National Umma Party (NUP) and daughter of former prime minister Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi.

Sudanese youths have been attempting to mobilize through social networking sites and stage demonstrations in a manner similar to that of Tunisia and Egypt. However, they have only managed to assemble few hundreds and were quickly rounded up and arrested by NISS agents.

Human Rights Watch condemned Khartoum’s use of "excessive force" in silencing protests.

"Rather than violently repressing basic freedoms, the Khartoum government should uphold the rights enshrined in its own constitution, allow freedom of political expression, and let journalists freely report on events," the New York-based group said in a statement last week.

Political tensions are growing in North Sudan as the South preparers to break away. Opposition parties are becoming increasingly frustrated with the full hegemony of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) over the state and decision making process.

The Sudanese president and NCP chairman Omer Hassan Al-Bashir vowed to allow opposition to become part of a broad-based government after the South’s independence.

The invitation drew mixed response though some opposition parties are reportedly in talks with the NCP on the details of the offer extended by Bashir.

Sudan is also in a deep economic crisis as budget deficit widened and inflation levels are soaring forcing the government to resort to unpopular measures such as removing subsidies on sugar and petroleum products.

(ST)