Sudan army conflicted over post-Bashir interim phase

KHARTOUM (AA) – Disputes have erupted within the Sudanese army command over who will head up a transitional council following President Omar al-Bashir’s reported resignation, well-informed sources told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.</p> <p>According to the sources, al-Bashir’s first deputy, Lieutenant-General Awad Ibn Auf, persuaded the president to step down amid continued popular protests.</p> <p>Ibn Auf, the same sources say, now plans to head up a military council to oversee the country’s post-Bashir transitional phase.</p> <p>They add, however, that a strong current within the military is opposed to Ibn Auf, who is known for his closeness to the al-Bashir regime and who therefore may not enjoy popular support.</p> <p>Earlier Thursday, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Khartoum and other cities to express their joy following reports of al-Bashir’s resignation as president after 30 years in power.</p> <p>According to local media reports, al-Bashir is currently under house arrest while his bodyguards have been detained.