Sudan's al-Bashir vows to release detained journalists

KHARTOUM (AA) – President Omar al-Bashir has pledged to release all journalists detained by Sudanese security forces since protests erupted across the country in mid-December.</p> <p>Al-Bashir made the remarks at a Wednesday meeting with the heads of Sudanese media and press agencies.</p> <p>According to the official Sudanese News Agency, al-Bashir further vowed to resolve “all issues related to press and media”, even voicing his readiness to ease the tax burden on the domestic media sector.</p> <p>Since popular demonstrations erupted across Sudan on Dec. 19, several journalists have been arrested — or summoned for questioning — by the security services, according to the non-governmental Network of Sudanese Journalists.</p> <p>The NGO puts the total number of detained journalists at 13, including Adam Mahdi, who has reportedly been slapped with a three-month prison term.</p> <p>Sudanese officials say around 31 people have been killed since the protests began almost two months ago, although the opposition puts the number at closer to 50. <br>

Last month, al-Bashir — in power since 1989 — pledged to carry out urgent economic reforms amid continued calls by the opposition to protest.

A nation of 40 million, Sudan has struggled to recover from the loss of some three quarters of its oil output — its main source of foreign currency — following the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

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