Turkey advises citizens to stay away from Sudan protests

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Monday advised its citizens to stay away from ongoing demonstrations in Sudan.

“Due to the ongoing incidents in the city center of Khartoum, it is important that Turkish citizens should stay away from streets and demonstrations, if possible,” Irfan Neziroglu, Turkey’s ambassador to Sudan, said in a message to Anadolu Agency.

Noting that Turkish people can contact the embassy in case of emergency, he said that the embassy has been following the incidents closely.

At least five protesters were killed and scores of others injured as Sudanese security forces moved in to clear the main protest camp near the army headquarters in Khartoum.

In early April, Sudan’s military establishment deposed long-serving President Omar al-Bashir following months of popular demonstrations against his 30-year rule.

The Transitional Military Council (TMC) is now overseeing a two-year transitional period during which it has pledged to hold presidential elections.

Demonstrators, however, have remained on the streets to demand that the TMC relinquish power -- at the earliest possible date -- to a civilian authority.