UPDATE - Sudanese continue protesting to demand civilian rule

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese continued to demonstrate Thursday outside army headquarters in the capital Khartoum to demand that the Military Transitional Council (MTC) hand over power to a civilian authority.

The demonstrations are being organized by the Sudan’s Freedom and Change Alliance, made up of the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) and a handful of prominent opposition groups.

Until 17:00 GMT, thousands of protestors were still arriving to join the large popular demonstrations in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum, which has witnessed an ongoing sit-in calling for a civilian authority to lead the country during the transitional phase after the military’s ouster of Omar al-Bashir earlier this month.

Tens of thousands of Sudanese also marched on Thursday in several Sudanese cities, including the eastern city of Gadarif and the western city of Fashir, the SPA said in a statement.

Protests on Thursday also included marches for students and others for judges, journalists, doctors, engineers, and athletes, all headed to the Khartoum sit-in.

On April 11, the Sudanese army announced the ouster of President al-Bashir following months of popular demonstrations against his 30-year rule.

The council, which was announced after ousting al-Bashir, is now planning to oversee a two-year “transitional period” during which it has pledged to hold presidential elections.

The opposition, however, has continued to stage large demonstrations to demand that the status quo ruling military council hand over power to a civilian administration.