Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday ordered an investigation into a violent crackdown by security forces on protesters in Khartoum.

Hamdok said in a televised speech: "I decided to form an investigative committee in the events that occurred on February 20-21."

He said Taj-Elsir Ali, the country's first female attorney general, would head the committee and a final report would be issued within seven days.

On Thursday, Sudanese security forces used teargas and batons to disperse thousands of protesters. They were demanding the reinstatement of army officers dismissed for refusing to crack down on demonstrations against former President Omar al-Bashir, witnesses said.

Protesters say the violent clash was the worst since the country's military council and a coalition of opposition parties brokered a power-sharing deal in August. But before the deal was agreed, Kharthoum saw a number of violent crackdowns by security forces that claimed the hundreds of Sudanese lives. 

A doctors' committee linked to the opposition said in a statement that at least 17 people were wounded, and many of the wounded were hit by teargas canisters. 

(With input from Reuters)