Sudan: Hamdok Says to Investigate Violence Against Protesters

Arab World

February 22nd, 8:06am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Sudanese protesters gesture and chant slogans at a barricade along a street, demanding that the country's Transitional Military Council hand over power to civilians, in Khartoum, Sudan June 5, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday ordered an investigation into a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters in Khartoum. This came after Sudanese security forces used teargas and batons to disperse thousands of protesters on Thursday. The renewed protests mainly called for the reinstatement of army officers dismissed for refusing to crack down on demonstrations against former President Omar al-Bashir, witnesses said. According to a doctors’ committee linked to the opposition, at least 17 people were wounded, and many of them were hit by teargas canisters. Hamdok said the televised speech: “I decided to form an investigative committee in the events that occurred on February 20-21.” He said Attorney General Taj-Elsir Ali would head the committee and a final report would be issued within seven days, Reuters reported.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2143901/sudan-hamdok-says-investigate-violence-against-protesters