UPDATE – Sudan: Only way to power change is elections

UPDATES WITH BASHIR'S REMARKS; REVISED HEADLINE, DECK</p> <p>KHARTOUM (AA) – Sudan’s president on Sunday said the country will get through the current crisis, while the Interior Ministry reiterated its support for him amid ongoing protests which began on Dec.19.</p> <p>We will get through the crisis despite attempts by some to make Sudan kneel, Omar al-Bashir said during a meeting with police commanders in Khartoum, without identifying to whom he was referring.</p> <p>Making it through will require “patience and persistent work,” he said.</p> <p>“Security is an expensive commodity and we will not be negligent in [protecting] the security of citizens and facilities,” al-Bashir said, adding that “the aim is not to kill citizens.” </p> <p>&quot;Sabotage, destruction, looting and theft are a deepening of the crisis,&quot; he said.</p> <p>During the meeting, Sudanese police reiterated their support for al-Bashir amid ongoing protests against rampant inflation and acute bread shortages. </p> <p>“We announce our full support for Bashir,” Interior Minister Ahmed Bilal said.</p> <p>He said the security forces will not allow “those trying to use the economic situation to inflame sedition.” </p> <p>“The only way to change power is through elections, not protests,” Bilal said. “There will be no way to chaos.” </p> <p>Police Director General Al-Tayeb Babikir Ali, for his part, said security forces were pursuing “criminals who used protests to commit robbery and theft.” </p> <p>“Change will only be achieved through elections, not anything else,” he said. </p> <p>Sudanese authorities say at least 19 people have been killed in street demonstrations that swept several Sudanese states against rising prices and shortages of basic commodities earlier this month. </p> <p>Opposition groups, for their part, say the death toll is closer to 40. </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, 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.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>