Protesters attacked in Sudan

Security agents loyal to deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir are suspected of killing at least six people in an overnight attack Monday on protesters demanding a civilian government. Video footage showed men dressed in Sudanese army and paramilitary uniforms opening fire on the demonstrators.

Clashes occurred across the country, including outside the military headquarters in the capital city of Khartoum, the main site of the ongoing sit-in by demonstrators. The Sudanese Doctors Committee said the death toll includes five protesters and an army officer. Ahmed Rabie, a spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals Association, said the violence injured more than 200 people.

The military and the opposition alliance on Monday said they reached a breakthrough agreement on the structure of the transitional government. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the transitional military council, condemned the violence and accused the perpetrators “of trying to abort a deal” between the council and the coalition of opposition groups, saying, “The army is committed to protecting the protesters, and we will arrest the perpetrators and we will hold them accountable.”

The Sudanese military, after months of protests, ousted longtime leader al-Bashir on April 11. Demonstrators have continued to demand that the transitional military council hand over power to civilian leadership. On Monday, Sudanese prosecutors said they charged al-Bashir with involvement in killing and incitement to kill protesters.