Sudanese defy curfew by post-coup junta, call for civilian rule

The protesters on Friday dismissed the transitional military council formed by top brass as the “same old faces” from the old regime which had ruled the country for three decades. 

Most shops and offices were closed on Friday which is the day of prayer and rest in Sudan as demonstrators demanded a civilian body to lead the transition to democracy.

The ruling military council, which is now running Sudan under Defense Minister Mohammed Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, promised the country would have a new civilian government.

The council said it expects a pre-election transition period it announced on Thursday to last two years at most or much less if chaos can be avoided.

It also said Bashir wound not be extradited to face allegations of genocide at the international war crimes court and instead would go on trial in Sudan.

Auf was sworn in as the chief of the new military council on Thursday. He declared a three-month state of emergency and imposed a one-month curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

He said the country’s airspace would be also closed for 24 hours and border crossings sealed until further notice.

Sudan military: Bashir toppled, held in ‘secure place’Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has been removed after nearly three decades in power and arrested by the army, the country’s defense minister says.

On Thursday, European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini called on the army to quickly hand over power to a civilian government.

“Only a credible and inclusive political process can meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people and lead to the political and economic reforms the country needs,” she said in a statement.

“That can only be achieved through a swift handover to a civilian transitional government,” Mogherini added.

The US also took sides with the protesters and urged Sudan’s army to bring civilians into government, saying the planned two-year transition timeline was simply too long.

Washington calls “on transitional authorities to exercise restraint and to allow space for civilian participation within the government,” US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters.

“The Sudanese people should determine who leads them and their future and the Sudanese people have been clear and are demanding a civilian-led transition,” he said.

“The United States position is the Sudanese people should be allowed to do so sooner than two years from now,” he added.

Iran said it does not take any sides in the recent developments in Sudan, and calls on all Sudanese parties to show self-restraint and sit down for dialogue.

“The principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said late Thursday.

In January, Bashir lamented that he had fallen for advice from unknown parties to normalize ties with Israel in order to ensure stability in his country, but had seen the situation spiral out of hand.

Last month, London-based Middle East Eye reported that the head of Mossad had met with his Sudanese counterpart in Germany as part of a secret plan by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to oust Bashir.