Khartoum - Sudan declared a state of
emergency in part of the conflict-ridden western region of
Darfur after violence and unrest in two towns, state news agency
SUNA said.
The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
said it had sent a team to Kutum town in North Darfur state
following the reported burning of a police station and cars by
unidentified protesters. It gave no details.
Protesters demanded on Sunday better security and a civilian
state government, a resident said. State governor positions are
held in Sudan by military officers despite the toppling of
autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April.
Separately, another resident told Reuters an unidentified
militia had attacked on Monday another sit-in in Fatabarno, a
village in the same area.
No more details were available about the two incidents.
Peaceful sit-ins have sprung up in towns across Darfur and
in other parts of Sudan, which also protesting the presence of
armed militias.
Conflict started in Darfur in 2003 after mostly non-Arab
rebels rose up against the Khartoum government. Government
forces and mainly Arab militia, which moved to repress the
revolt, were accused of widespread atrocities. Some 300,000
people were killed in the conflict, according to U.N. estimates.
There has been no serious fighting for years but the
conflict remains unresolved as Arab militias are still present
and have control over land they seized.
The transition civilian Khartoum government, in power with
military since Bashir's toppling, has vowed to end the conflict
and is holding talks with some of the rebel groups that had
fought Bashir's government in Darfur and elsewhere in the
country.