SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Independent - Seven protesters shot dead during Sudan military coup as world leaders urge army to pull back
In response to protests against the military coup, the Independent report that heavily armed Sudanese army and paramilitary forces are restricting civilian movements and firing teargas at protesters. The internet and phone lines across Sudan were disrupted.
“We heard 300 have been arrested... We are worried that another massacre will happen. This is happening because the military, which runs a lot of the economy, does not want to hand over the control of the country to civilians.” said Dr Samia al-Nagar, a civil society activist.
A former senior Sudanese diplomat defended the military actions, saying that the decision was made because the civilian wing of government had “dragged their feet” on new elections. “Sudan is not the US or Britain: you cannot insult the army. The situation is threatening national security. The army has stepped in to stop the feud between different small political parties,” the former diplomat said.