Sudanese police clash with protesters

Police forces in Sudan have clashed with supporters of the country’s prominent opposition leader Hassan al-Torabi in the capital city of Khartoum.

Hundreds of protesters outraged with Torabi’s detention took to streets on Wednesday and called on the government to release the leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) immediately, Reuters reported

Demonstrators also called for justice as they marched toward the opposition leader’s house but were dispersed as police fired tear gas and used baton against the crowd.

Representatives of all the main opposition parties also gathered at Torabi’s party headquarters, calling for the formation of a national coalition government to include the opposition in the north of Sudan.

Torabi was arrested along with eight other PCP officials on Tuesday after he warned of a Tunisia-style uprising in the country. He had said that what happened in Tunisia was a reminder and was likely to take place in Sudan, too.

The Sudanese government accuses Torabi of trying to foment unrest and undermining security.

Sudan has been the scene of student protests following a decision by Khartoum to cut the subsidies on petroleum products and key commodity sugar, and a consequent hike in food prices.

Similar demonstrations in the North African state of Tunisia over unemployment and high expenses started a month ago and eventually ended up in the ouster of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled the country for 23 years.

Ben Ali’s overthrow has raised stability concerns in other countries in the African continent which suffer similar social, economic and political problems.