Sudan opposition calls for 'uprising’ in cities, towns

KHARTOUM (AA) – Sudanese opposition parties and professional associations on Friday called for a weeklong “uprising” next week in towns and cities across the country to demand the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir.

In a joint statement, the Nidaa al-Sudan Coalition, the Forces of National Consensus, the Sudanese Professional Association, and the Assembly of Opposition Unionists called for weeklong demonstrations -- starting Sunday – “in Khartoum and other cities and towns”.

The statement went on to urge the Sudanese people to continue demonstrating “until this regime is overthrown”.

Sudan has been rocked by protests since mid-December, with demonstrators decrying the government’s seeming inability to rein in rampant inflation and acute commodity shortages.

On Wednesday, police announced the launch of investigations after three protesters were killed in Omdurman, Sudan’s second largest city.

The authorities say that a total of 22 people have been killed in the unrest so far, while opposition groups put the number at more than 40.