Sudanese police fire tear gas as protesters reach the vicinity of the presidential palace
Television footage showed the arrival of protesters opposed to the military rule to the vicinity of the presidential palace in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, today, Saturday, for the second time in seven days, despite the massive tear gas fire and the interruption of internet services in the city.
A Reuters witness said that Sudanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse the crowds on the tenth day of major demonstrations since the October 25 decisions.
The protests continued even after Abdullah Hamdok was reinstated as prime minister last month.
A week ago, the demonstrators managed to start a sit-in at the gates of the palace, but today they faced rows of security forces.
Witnesses said that internet services were disrupted in the capital, Khartoum, and residents were unable to make or receive local calls today, while soldiers and Rapid Support Forces closed roads leading to bridges linking Khartoum to Omdurman.
Despite the internet outage, residents were able to access social networking sites and published posts that included pictures of protests in several other cities, including Madani and Atbara.
Another Reuters witness said that security forces in neighboring Omdurman fired tear gas at protesters two kilometers from a bridge linking the city to central Khartoum.
The Sudan News Agency, the country's official agency, said that the state of Khartoum closed the bridges on Friday evening in anticipation of the protests.
"Departing from peacefulness, approaching and compromising the sovereign and strategic sites in central Khartoum is against the laws, and chaos and abuses will be dealt with, while emphasizing the right to peaceful demonstration," the agency said, quoting the State Security Coordination Committee.
Protesters in Khartoum chanted against the internet and road closures.
They also chanted against Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, commander of the army and head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council.
A third Reuters witness said the protesters also chanted when security forces fired tear gas at them.
A senior official in an Internet service provider company in Sudan told Reuters that the service interruption came after a decision by the National Telecommunications Authority, which oversees the sector.
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