Key powers urge immediate resumption of Sudan talks

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Major international powers during talks Friday in Washington urged Sudan's military rulers and protesters to resume suspended negotiations on the country's future immediately, the United States said.

Representatives from the UN, African Union and European powers "called for an immediate resumption of talks" between the two sides, said Tibor Nagy, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Africa.

They called on the protesters and the Transitional Military Council to "reach an agreement ASAP on an interim government that is truly civilian-led and reflects the will of the Sudanese people," Nagy tweeted.

"We also expressed concern about the recent violence directed by security forces against protesters, and agreed to call for the TMC to allow peaceful protests and hold accountable those responsible for recent violence," he wrote.

Sudanese forces fire shots during a protest in Khartoum, Sudan May 15, 2019, in this still image taken from a video obtained from social media via Reuters

The talks in Washington included representatives of the United Nations, African Union and European Union.

Countries involved were Britain, France, Germany and Norway as well as Ethiopia, which is the chair of an eight-nation Horn of Africa regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which includes Sudan.

The head of the military council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, early Thursday announced a suspension of talks for 72 hours as he demanded that protesters dismantle roadblocks and open bridges and railway lines connecting the capital.

Sudanese protesters chant slogans as security forces prepare to disperse them along a street during demonstrations in central Khartoum, Sudan, May 15, 2019. /Reuters Photo

In the early hours of Friday, hundreds of demonstrators chanting revolutionary slogans tore down roadblocks on Nile Street, a key avenue, that had paralyzed downtown Khartoum this week.

Protesters had erected the barricades to pressure the military rulers when talks began on Monday, but the roadblocks triggered clashes between demonstrators and security forces according to witnesses.

Talks between the two sides achieved significant breakthroughs on Monday but were marred by violence which left five protesters and an army major dead.

(Cover: A Sudanese protester spreads a banner with the colors of the national flag near the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum, May 17, 2019. /AFP Photo)

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Source(s): AFP