KHARTOUM, April 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Loyalists of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir have called for a support rally in Khartoum on Thursday.
The acting chief of Bashir’s ruling party, Ahmed Harun, is quoted as saying that the rally aims to show that “there are social and political powers that are committed towards peace, security and stability in Sudan”.
In March, Bashir handed his powers as party leader to Harun in the face of the protests demanding he stand down. But he remained as president.
These protests started in December.
Over the last five days protests have grown as protesters have been gathering outside the army headquarters and asking the army to side with the protesters.
Meanwhile, the government said 11 people were killed on Tuesday in the capital Khartoum, including six members of the state security forces.
They died when the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) tried to disperse thousands of demonstrators who were calling on President Omar al-Bashir to step down.
Some soldiers helped protect the protesters and even shot back in the direction of the security personnel.
The anti-government demonstrations began in December but intensified on Saturday.
Since then thousands of protesters have been holding a sit-in outside the military headquarters.
The situation remains tense. — NNN-AGENCIES