More protests erupt in Sudan over economic woes

By Husameldin Badawi Ahmed Almayl and Afra Aksoy</p> <p>KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Demonstrations erupted on Monday in Sudan’s province of Gezira over the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.</p> <p>Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency the protests erupted in al-Manaqil and Rufaa cities over price hike and shortage of basic commodities.</p> <p>Police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators and arrested some of them. </p> <p>The state-run SUNA news agency reported that President Omar al-Bashir will pay a visit to Gezira tomorrow to announce “a series of new development projects”.</p> <p>Meanwhile, doctors working in 28 hospitals across nine states of Sudan, including capital Khartoum, are planning to go on a strike to support the ongoing demonstrations in the country. </p> <p>Violent demonstrations erupted last Wednesday in the cities of Atbara and Port Sudan.</p> <p>In a couple of days, the protests broke out in several cities, including Er-Rahad in northern Sudan, the southern town of Berber and El-Gadarif and El-Obeid in eastern Sudan. </p> <p>While official estimates put the death toll from the protests at eight, opposition groups say that at least 22 people have been killed in the unrest.</p> <p>On Sunday, protests broke out in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital Khartoum, and the North and South Kordofan states. </p> <p>Witnesses said police fired teargas to disperse fans who marched down the center of Khartoum following a football game amid chants against al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989.</p> <p>Sudanese authorities have announced a state of emergency and curfew in a number of provinces over the protests, with government officials accusing Israel of plotting with rebel groups to cause violence in the country. </p> <p>A nation of 40 million people, Sudan has struggled to recover from the loss of three quarters of its oil output – its main source of foreign currency – when South Sudan seceded in 2011.