Thousands gather in Sudan square for ‘martyrs’ rally
Agency report
According to APF, thousands of Sudanese demonstrators converged on a prominent square in Khartoum in a march to honour comrades killed in the months-long protest movement that has rocked the country.
The report, monitored by Daily Times, stated that rallies came a day after protest leaders and army rulers inked a power-sharing deal to form a joint civilian-military body tasked with installing a civilian administration — the main demand of demonstrators.
Witnesses said men, women and school children waved Sudanese flags as they headed towards the Green Yard from different parts of the capital.
As they marched, the demonstrators shouted slogans that have been the rallying cries of the uprising that led to the April toppling of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir: “Civilian rule, civilian rule!” and “Freedom, peace, justice!”
The marches were held in response to calls from a key protest group.
“The rallies are a tribute to those honourable martyrs of the December revolution,” the Sudanese Professionals Association said in a statement. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse a rally at a central bus station in downtown Khartoum, witnesses said.
“Protesters who were dispersed are trying to mobilise again and continue with the rally. It’s like a game of cat and mouse between them,” a witness told AFP from the capital’s Jackson bus station.
One onlooker said that many who arrived at the Green Square were in tears as they chanted slogans in honour of those killed in the protests.
“We are here to hold on to our demands since the military council is not responding to our demands. We will not give up,” said Shaima Ahmed, as crowds of protesters arrived behind her.
