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Sudan protest group rejects United Nations offer for talks with military
Global News
A Sudanese protest group rejected a U.N. initiative to hold talks with the military. The move is a blow to international efforts seeking an end to Sudan's political deadlock.
A leading Sudanese protest group on Sunday rejected a United Nations initiative to hold talks with the military aimed at restoring the country’s democratic transition following an October coup. At least one demonstrator, meanwhile, was killed when security forces violently broke up anti-coup protests in the capital, activists said.
The move is a blow to international efforts seeking an end to Sudan’s political deadlock, and suggests that relentless street protests are likely to continue. Over 60 people have been killed since the military takeover.
The U.N. offer Saturday came a week after embattled Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned, citing a failure to reach compromise between the generals and the pro-democracy movement.
The Oct. 25 coup scuttled hopes of a peaceful transition, over two years after a popular uprising forced the military overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government.
In a statement, the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, which led the upraising against al-Bashir, said the “only way” out of the ongoing crisis is through the removal of the generals from power. It seeks a fully civilian government to lead the transition, underlined by the motto “No negotiations, no compromise, no power-sharing” with the military.
The SPA has been the backbone of anti-coup protests, alongside youth groups known as the Resistance Committees.
Protesters continued their marches in Khartoum on Sunday, with security forces firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators near the presidential palace, according to activist Nazim Sirag.
Security forces also opened fire on protesters in the capital’s Bahri district. At least one protester was killed and another one suffered a gunshot in his leg, Sirag said.