Khartoum - Four people died in Sudan late
on Monday in violence that broke out after a political
transition deal between the mainstream opposition and military
rulers, who said they would not allow the country to descend
into "chaos".
One policeman and three protesters were killed in Khartoum
and many other demonstrators were wounded, state TV said. Heavy
gunfire was heard in the capital late into the evening, but
Reuters could not immediately confirm the scale of casualties or
who triggered the violence.
The Transitional Military Council (TMC) blamed saboteurs.
"Behind this are groups that... are working hard to abort any
progress in negotiations."
Early on Tuesday the TMC said it would not allow citizens'
safety to be jeopardized. "Neither the (paramilitary) Rapid
Support Forces or the army will fire one shot at our protesting
brothers, but we repeat: we do not allow chaos," it said.
Protesters said counter-revolutionaries linked to the former
regime of long-time President Omar al-Bashir incited Monday's
violence. The deaths were the first linked to protests in
Khartoum in several weeks.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council, second right, speaks at a press conference in Khartoum. File picture: AP
The TMC and the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces
opposition alliance said on Monday they had agreed to a power
structure for the transition following Bashir's removal and
arrest last month.
Both said they had agreed on the duties and authorities of
sovereign, executive and legislative bodies.
Talks were due to resume on Tuesday to discuss two sticking
points: the military-civilian balance of power in transitional
bodies, and the length of the transition before elections.
Protesters are pushing for a swift handover of power to
civilians and have kept up demonstrations since Bashir's
departure, including a more than month-long sit-in outside the
Defence Ministry.