Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Sudan to protest against a military coup and demand a return to a civilian-led government.
Thousands of protesters demonstrate against the coup in Omdurman city, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Demonstrators in the capital Khartoum and other cities say ousted PM Abdullah Hamdok must be immediately reinstated.
Three people were shot dead by the security forces in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, according to medics.
Coup leader General Abdel Fattah Burhan dissolved civilian rule and arrested political leaders earlier this week.
The general, who also called a state of emergency, said his actions were justified to avoid "civil war" and stop political infighting.
The military takeover has drawn widespread international condemnation.
On Saturday, demonstrators in Khartoum were seen marching with Sudanese flags and chanting "No to military rule!"
Protesters in Khartoum on Saturday carry a banner showing ousted PM Abdullah Hamdok, and demanded and en to the coup. Photo: AFP
"People here are very peaceful. These protests are going to continue being peaceful even when faced with the guns," Shaheen al Shaheef, a member of the Khartoum Resistance Committee, told the BBC.
"However, we do realise the current situation of [General] Burhan - he has lost all his backing. This is really a one-person coup, there is nothing, no-one else to back him."
Saturday's nationwide protests had aimed to bring a million people out to demonstrate against Monday's coup.
Sudan's Central Doctors Committee said three protesters had died after being shot by live bullets in Omdurman.
Sudan's interior ministry denied in a statement that forces had used live rounds and accused some protesters of attacking the police.
More than 10 protesters have reportedly died in clashes with security forces this week.
The Sudanese authorities have cut off the internet and other communications, as well as imposing restrictions on movement.
Until Monday's coup, civilian and military leaders had been in an uneasy power-sharing agreement since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019.
The deal was designed to steer Sudan towards democracy, but it proved to be fragile with a number of previous coup attempts, the last just over a month ago.
General Burhan, who was head of the power-sharing council, said Sudan was still committed to the transition to civilian rule, with elections planned for July 2023.
-BBC
