Bashir calls on police to refrain from using force against demonstrators

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has asked police today to refrain from using excessive force against protesters protesting the government after the United Nations called for an investigation into the killing of demonstrators during violent protests.

"We are keen on security, but the police should maintain security, but with minimal force," Bashir said during a meeting with police commanders. He added that Sudan is seeking to solve the economic problems facing the country away from sabotage.

He added that «our economic problems need patience and wisdom and this is what we seek», pointing out that «Sudan« has been subjected to a long siege of the state lost oil resources, and turned from two to importers ».

"We will get out of our current crisis no matter what the others try to do against us," he said. He added that «the duty of the state to prevent sabotage and destruction, because it complicates the problems and does not solve».

"We recognize that we have a problem in the economy, people work day and night to solve it, and will not be solved by sabotage, destruction, theft and looting, and will not be solved by destroying public and private property," he said.

"We do not want our country to slide down as it did in other countries. We will not allow our people to be refugees and displaced people. If that happens, where do we go? Look at the region around us." "We are more generous than being displaced and refugees," he said.

For his part, Sudanese Interior Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said that "there is no way to power but the election funds," stressing that «we are with freedom and democracy, and will not allow the destabilization of security and stability».

"Much of the property has been recovered and the police are pursuing the other criminals who are taking advantage of the demonstrations," he said.

The government says at least 19 people have been killed since December 19 during protests sparked by Khartoum's decision to raise the price of bread from Sudanese pounds to three pounds, but Amnesty International says the death toll is 37.

Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "calm and restraint" and asked the authorities "to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and violence," according to a statement by his spokesman.