News / Africa

Demonstrators Clash With Police During Austerity Protests in Sudan

TEXT SIZE - +
VOA News
Protesters clashed with police in Sudan's capital Khartoum Saturday as demonstrations against spending cuts in Sudan continue into a second week.

Security forces have been using tear gas and batons to break up the demonstrations which have spread into several neighborhoods.  Reports say some people have been arrested.

Activists are trying to spark an "Arab Spring"-style uprising against the government of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, for imposing austerity measures to reduce its  $2.4 billion budget deficit.

Opposition leaders and youth activists have called for more demonstrations to press for greater democracy and measures to control price rises.  Protesters are also complaining about unemployment and official corruption.

Sudan's economy has declined since the secession of South Sudan a year ago.

The new nation took about three-quarters of the country's oil output, which was previously Sudan's main source of revenues.

Sudan and South Sudan have yet to agree on a deal regulating how the landlocked South would pay Sudan fees to export crude via pipelines and other facilities on its territory.
      
Rights group Amnesty International on Friday called on Khartoum to end the crackdown on protesters and journalists who are covering the demonstrations.

You May Like

Video NASA Introduces New Astronaut Candidates

NASA says half appointees are women, making this highest percentage of female astronauts in one class More

Singapore, Malaysia Choke as Illegal Indonesia Forest Fires Rage

Illegal clearing of forests by burning is a recurrent problem, particularly during annual dry season that stretches from June to September More

Scandals Hit Obama's Standing With US Voters

Obama's approval rating fell eight percentage points over past month to 45 percent More

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Egyptian Support for Syrian Opposition is Words Over Action

Egypt has further aligned itself with those trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But as VOA's Elizabeth Arrott reports from Cairo, it remains unclear how far Egypt will back its words with action.