- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
TEHRAN, December 21 - Sudan's government said it was doing everything it could to deal with shortages of basic food items and services, but warned it would not hesitate to deal firmly with anyone breaking the law, a reference to violent street protests this week over deteriorating economic conditions.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - In a statement late Thursday, government spokesman Bishara Gomaa acknowledged there were deaths during the protests on Wednesday and Thursday in a string of Sudanese cities, but he gave no details. At least 20 protesters have been detained in the protests.
Morgue officials in the eastern city of Gadaref said at least two protesters were killed in clashes with police there on Thursday. However, Sudanese media reports put the death toll there at six, but this could not be independently confirmed.
The protests were chiefly about the shortage of, and higher prices of, bread but popular resentment has been simmering for weeks over Sudan's worsening economic conditions following a devaluation of the currency in October. The devaluation caused inflation rates to spike, fuel shortages and a liquidity crunch that forced the government to place a ceiling on bank withdrawals and led to long lines at ATMs across the country.
In keeping with the government's response to similar past protests, Thursday's statement offered no details on how authorities intended to tackle the country's economic crisis and included familiar and often used charges that the opposition was taking advantage of the anger on the streets for political gain.
"Some political parties have reared their heads in an attempt to take advantage of these conditions to undermine security and stability in support of their political agenda," said the statement, carried by the official Sudan News Agency.
Source: AP
Your Comment