UN chief urges 'calm and utmost restraint' in Sudan

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on all parties in Sudan to exercise "calm and utmost restraint" Thursday following the ouster of long-time President Omar al-Bashir.

Guterres "recalls his previous encouragement and expectation that the democratic aspiration of the Sudanese people will be realized through an appropriate and inclusive transition process," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms that the United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese people as they chart a way forward," Dujarric said.

The Sudanese military earlier Thursday announced the removal of al-Bashir, who had ruled Sudan since 1989, and the imposition of a two-year "transitional phase".

Defense Minister Awad ibn Auf also announced in a televised statement the imposition of a one-month curfew -- to take effect Thursday evening -- along with a three-month nationwide state of emergency.

Ibn Auf further announced the suspension of Sudan’s 2005 Constitution and the dissolution of the Sudanese presidency, parliament and council of ministers.

A military council, he said, would be drawn up to run the country’s affairs during the post-Bashir interim phase.

Sudanese opposition parties and professional associations voiced their "total rejection" of what they described as a "military coup".

Al-Bashir came to power on the back of a 1989 military coup against the democratically-elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi.

In a subsequent statement, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which led recent protests against al-Bashir, urged members of the Sudanese military to be wary of attempts by the deep state to "steal the revolution".

"We call on all officers and soldiers of the Sudanese army… to stand with the people against attempts to steal the revolution by the regime’s old guard," the statement read.