NYALA  - Six people were killed Tuesday during a protest against high prices in Sudan, a state government official said, in the worst violence since Arab Spring-style demonstrations began more than six weeks ago. “According to reports we received, six people were killed,” Bothina Mohmed Ahmed, of the South Darfur government, told AFP. She had no details of how they died, in the state capital Nyala, and added that a number of people were also injured. A witness earlier told AFP that police had fired tear gas at the demonstrators scattered in groups around Nyala’s main market. He said protesters threw stones at government buildings and burned tyres in the street. Like other demonstrators in Sudan, they repeated a call made by Arab Spring protesters around the region: “The people want the fall of the regime.” Four bleeding protesters and three security officers were taken away for medical treatment from the demonstration, the witness said. Nobody was allowed inside the city’s hospital where a crowd had gathered outside, he added. Demonstrations in Sudan started on June 16 when University of Khartoum students voiced opposition to high food prices, starting the longest-running public challenge to the 23-year regime of President Omar al-Bashir. After Bashir announced austerity measures, including tax hikes and an end to cheap fuel, scattered protests spread to include a cross-section of people, often in groups of 100 or 200, around the capital Khartoum and in other parts of Sudan. Protests have dwindled during the holy month of Ramazan, which began on July 20. But a strike by public transport drivers upset over high fuel prices has added to the burden of Nyala residents. The strike apparently triggered a protest on Monday by more than 200 students, which escalated on Tuesday, the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) told AFP. “This has been happening on the main roads and in the main market area. There’s been some damage to buildings,” said UNAMID spokesman Christopher Cycmanick.

Trending Discussions

Pak-China-India triangle

Taliban talks offer to be accepted: Nawaz

Saudis minimise Umrah visas for Pakistanis

Sree a small fry, big fish involved: Police