Sudan protests – Explosions and gunfire rock Khartoum as soldiers open fire on pro-democracy protest camp ‘killing at least 13’ – The Sun
EXPLOSIONS and gunfire have rocked Sudan's capital Khartoum today after security forces stormed a pro-democracy protest camp outside the army’s headquarters.
At least 13 people have been killed after troops reportedly opened fire on the protesters and also set fire to tents in their camp early on Monday.
Heavy machine gun fire and explosions are being heard across the city and troops have blocked roads leading to the sit-in camp of protesters, who have demanded transition to civilian rule.
The protesters have in turn blocked roads in several parts of Khartoum with stones and burning tyres.
"The protesters holding a sit-in in front of the army general command are facing a massacre in a treacherous attempt to disperse the protest," the protest group said in a statement.
Sudan has been governed by the army since President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a coup in April.
But there has been deadlock between democracy campaigners and the military on the shape of a new government to rule Sudan in the coming years.
Videos circulating online showed the army moving through barricades as smoke rose into the air, as well as security forces beating a protester.
Other footage show protesters running through streets heads down, as the sound of gunfire filled the air.
The military's push came after a weeks-long standoff with protesters seeking a speedy transition to civilian rule.
Sudan's ruling military council confirmed there have been clashes between troops and protesters in a sit-in area in the capital, Khartoum.
Why is there continuing turmoil in Sudan?
The protests in Sudan came after the overthrow of strongman Omar al-Bashir saw hopes rise there might finally be full democracy in the country.
Demonstrations initially erupted last December with rallies against a spiralling economy and al-Bashir was forced to quit 30 years after in power.
Tens of thousands of protesters have been camped since April 6 outside the military's headquarters, the centre of Sudan's uprising that led to the military overthrow of al-Bashir.
Since then protest leaders and military officials have been negotiating over the makeup of a transitional government.
But they cannot agree on whether civilians or the military should have the majority of positions.
It has been proposed that a sovereign council lead Sudan for three years as it embraces civilian rule.
The demonstrators want limited military representation on the council, but the generals want overall control during the interim period.
Shams al-Deen al-Kabashi, spokesman for the council, said that the military was targeting criminals what it considers a lawless area near the sit-in, nicknamed "Colombia."
He said a number of people from that area then moved to the main protest site, and that the clashes had been between security forces and those people.
"The protest camp has not been dispersed," Kabbashi said.
"The security forces were trying to disperse unruly (elements) in the Colombia area, near the protest site, and some of these elements fled to the protest site and caused this chaos."
In the same "Colombia" area, three people, including a woman, were killed by security forces in recent days.
British ambassador in Ifran Siddiq, says he is "extremely concerned by the heavy gunfire" he heard as well as "reports that Sudanese security forces are attacking the protest sit-in site, resulting in casualties”
"No excuse for any such attack," he said via Twitter.
The US Embassy in Sudan called on Sudanese security forces to stop their "attacks against protesters and other civilians” and said attempts to move against the protesters were wrong.
The Transitional Military Council (TMC) has offered to let protesters form a government but insists on maintaining overall authority during an interim period.
The demonstrators want civilians to run the transitional period and lead Sudan's 40 million people to democracy.
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