By Husameldin Badawi Ahmed Almayl,Safiye Karabacak
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - The West's embargo has caused economic troubles in Sudan, the country’s president said on Tuesday.
Sudanese state TV reported that Omar al-Bashir, who addressed residents of a village in the Gezira state near Khartoum, said that there are saboteurs and agents, who aimed to impede development and progress of Sudan.
Al-Bashir stated that traitors, agents and mercenaries ruin Sudanese state's institutions. "Sudan has economic difficulties due to the West’s embargo," he said.
Sudanese security forces dispersed a mass protest near the presidential palace in capital Khartoum on Tuesday, according to eyewitnesses.
Thousands of protesters marched from Al-Qasr street to the presidency headquarters demanding President Omar al-Bashir to step down from power, the witnesses said.
Police used teargas to disperse the demonstrators.
Dozens of protesters were reportedly arrested.
On Monday, al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989, pledged to carry out economic reforms amid street protests over price hikes and a shortage of basic commodities.
At least eight people have been reportedly killed since the protests began in several Sudanese states last week.
A nation of 40 million people, Sudan has struggled to recover from the loss of three quarters of its oil output – its main source of foreign currency – when South Sudan seceded in 2011.
The U.S. started to impose economic embargo on Sudan in 1997 for terror abet reason but pledged to lift it in January.