Sudan’s Prime Minister resigns GP

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has said he will step down as a result of the country’s political stalemate following the October military coup.

“I did my best to prevent the country from heading towards disaster,” he said on state television.

Hamdok was placed under house arrest after the coup, but was released a few weeks later and reinstated as prime minister. However, his powers are seen as quite restricted, with the coup leader and Major General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan controlling the governing bodies.

Earlier on Sunday, thousands of demonstrators gathered in the town of Omdurman to protest against the Military Council. Two people were shot dead by security forces, according to the medical committee affiliated with the pro-democracy movement.

During a demonstration of 1,000 participants outside the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum, security forces used tear gas, an AFP journalist reported on the spot. Demonstrators chanted “Power to the people” and demanded a transition to a civilian government in the country.

Street protests against the military junta have been going on for more than two months. The protests were repeatedly met with violent opposition by the security forces. Five people were shot dead on Thursday in Khartoum when security forces clashed with mass demonstrations.

At least 56 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, according to the medical committee.