Move FM Global News

KHARTOUM, Sudan – In a week of violent protests over bread shortages and fuel prices, army soldiers have shot dead six schoolboys, among a rising death toll of protesters being hit with live ammunition.

Four protesters were killed on Thursday in Omdurman, the second largest city in Sudan, a doctors committee said.

“Four protesters have been killed by live ammunition and several wounded at a rally in Omdurman,” the doctors committee statement said.

Demonstrations have been occurring across the country with students now playing a major part. Social media has been lit up, prompting tens of thousands to hit the streets of the capital Khartourm on Thursday.

Protesters also rallied in Al Obeid, the Red Sea coastal city of Port Sudan, in White Nile state and in the central city of Madani, TRT reported witnesses as saying.

Meantime Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council has admitted paramilitary troops of the Rapid Support Forces were involved in the killing of the six school boys on Monday.

In a statement, the council said that the involved personnel have been arrested and an investigation has been launched into the killing of the children.

Opposition leaders in Sudan said Thursday they were making progress in talks with the ruling military junta on forming a new transitional government.

“The agreement is really now just around the corner,” Satea al Hajj, a leader in the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition of opposition groups, said at a press conference in Khartoum on Thursday.

Negotiations were continuing on Thursday.

Key obstacles to an agreement, one involving immunity for military personnel in the ruling council from prosecution for past decisions, and the other on the make-up of the legislative council, have been resolved according to an opposition spokesperson.