Reuters/Khartoum
Up to 48 Sudanese opposition supporters will face charges for taking part in a banned rally close to parliament calling for democratic reforms, officials said yesterday.
Riot police fired teargas to break up more than 200 demonstrators in Khartoum on Monday in the second clash with opposition supporters in a week as political tensions mount ahead of April elections.
Up to 48 people were arrested and later released on bail, spokespeople for four parties that took part in the protest said.
“They are trying to intimidate us. This was a very stupid step,” said Niemat Malik from Sudan’s Communists.
Kamal Omar, from the Islamist Popular Congress Party, said the protesters would be charged with causing a public nuisance.
An official from Sudan’s ministry of interior said around 20 protesters had been arrested and released on bail.
“The organisers should have applied for permission for the march but did not do that. The ministry put out a statement warning that anyone taking part would be breaking the law,” said the official.
Clashes last week drew international criticism and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) which dominates the south, said the charges after Monday’s rally were “baseless”.
“All of them (the arrested) were participating in a peaceful march which is within the law and a constitutionally guaranteed right,” SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum said.
حركة العدل و المساواة السودانية
موقع متخصص بنقل آخر الأخبار و البيانات و القرارات لحركة العدل و المساواة السودانية