Government sources say Sudan's President al-Bashir has stepped down

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Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has stepped down, and consultations are underway to set up a transitional council, Reuters reported, citing government sources.

Soldiers raided the headquarters of the Islamic movement led by Omar al-Bashir in the capital Khartoum on Thursday, a Reuters witness said.

The Sudanese Armed Forces will make a statement soon, according to official Sudan TV.

Thousands of people flocked to an anti-government protest outside the defense ministry and huge crowds took to the streets in central Khartoum, dancing and chanting anti-Bashir slogans.

Sudanese demonstrators unfurl a giant national flag as they rally in front of the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum, April 10, 2019. /VCG Photo

Protesters outside the defense ministry chanted: "It has fallen, we won."

Earlier this week, soldiers clashed with uniformed intelligence and security service personnel who were dispersing thousands of anti-government protesters camping outside the Defense Ministry in Khartoum.

At least 11 people died in the clashes on Tuesday, including six members of the armed forces.

It was not known what would now happen to Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague and is facing an arrest warrant over allegations of genocide in Sudan's Darfur region during an insurgency that began in 2003 and led to the death of an estimated 300,000 people.