Aug 30, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Riot police fired teargas and beat a journalist in central Khartoum on Wednesday as opposition party supporters gathered to demonstrate against a recent rise in petrol and sugar prices, witnesses said.

Thousands of people had been expected at the protest organized by a group of opposition parties. But riot police prevented opposition leaders and others from joining the rally, which the authorities had banned, witnesses said.

Dozens of people holding banners ran through the streets to escape police wielding batons and shields. Police sped in trucks through central Khartoum, dispersing any crowd attempting to demonstrate.

"We asked for permission from the authorities to hold this demonstration but they refused to give it to us," said Mariam al-Mahdi, spokesperson of the opposition Umma party.

"This is the excuse they used today for the actions to prevent us from demonstrating," she added.

A Reuters witness saw riot police snatch a TV camera from an Al Jazeera journalist filming the crowd. The police chased him, beating him with sticks. A Reuters vehicle was hit by one of many tear gas canisters fired by police.

At least seven lorries filled with heavily armed soldiers drove around the capital in a show of force.

The government has recently announced that it would reduce petrol and sugar subsidies to fill a hole in this year’s budget.

Shouting "no to the rise in prices," one group of protesters managed to march to within a few hundred meters of the capital’s Republican Palace before riot police stopped them and arrested the men, witnesses said.

"We are here to demonstrate peacefully," said protester Sarah Nugdallah. "The oil we have goes straight into the government’s pockets and not to the people. People need democracy — this is just the beginning."

Sudan produces around 330,000 barrels of crude per day.

Mahdi said that four of the demonstration’s organizers were arrested by security forces early in the morning.

The march coincided with a government-organized protest against the deployment of U.N. forces in its war-torn Darfur region. That demonstration of around 1,000 people was allowed to take place nearby.

"They give out sweets at one protest and tear gas bombs at the other," said one Sudanese bystander.

(Reuters)