Cops beat up protesters
2009-12-14 10:18
Khartoum - Several protesters from the southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement were beaten by police on Monday as they tried to reach parliament for a planned pro-democracy rally, an AFP reporter said.
Sudanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse about 200 opposition protesters on Monday who tried to rally near Sudan's parliament to demand democratic reforms before presidential and parliamentary polls.
Riot police with batons and shields lined the streets near parliament before the planned rally, a Reuters witness said.
Political tensions are mounting in Sudan in the build-up to the April elections. Khartoum drew international criticism after arresting three leaders from the main party in south Sudan at a rally last week.
South Sudan's former rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement and opposition groups are demanding that President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's National Congress Party usher in reform of Sudan's security forces and other arms of the government.
The sides came closer together on Sunday when Bashir's party reached a deal with the SPLM on the terms of a referendum on southern independence.
Opposition groups said on Monday they were pushing for more changes before the elections and referendum. More than 200 opposition and SPLM supporters had gathered outside a compound close to Sudan's parliament for Monday's protest.
Peaceful march
"Monday's agreements were only partial. Laws relating to the democratisation process - relating to the security service, the trade unions and criminal procedure still have to be changed," said Mubarak al-Fadil, leader of the opposition Umma Reform and Renewal Party.
He said supporters were hoping to hold a peaceful march to parliament to hand over a letter requesting the changes. But a large number of security forces in the streets were preventing protesters from approaching.
"For us, this crackdown proves our point that the situation in the country does not permit free and fair elections," Fadel said.
Ibrahim Ghandour, a senior NCP official, said the rally was a matter for the security services and that organisers had not applied for permission for a march.
"We hope that the opposition parties instead of talking in their historical jargon go forward and encourage their supporters, if they have any, to take part in the election," he said.
- SAPA