Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir told the police Sunday to abstain from using excessive force against anti-government demonstrators as the UN called for a probe into deaths during the protests.
"We want to maintain security and we want the police to do that by using less force," Bashir said as he met top police officers in Khartoum and instructed them to refrain from using excessive force against demonstrators.
"We admit that we have economic problems... but they can't be solved by destruction, looting, and thefts," Bashir stressed.
"We don't want our country to go the way other countries in the region have gone. We will not allow our people to be refugees. If this happens where can we go in this region?" he added.
At least 19 people have been killed and more than 400 have been wounded during protests sparked by Khartoum's decision to raise the price of bread, according to the government.
Sudanese Interior Minister Ahmed Bilal Othman announced that the state police forces “fully support” Bashir.
“We announce our full support for Bashir,” Othman said during a meeting with Bashir and the police commanders in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.
He stressed that the ministry would stop “those trying to use the economic situation to inflame sedition.
“The only way to change power is through elections, not protests,” he noted, adding: “There will be no way to chaos.”
Police Director General Al-Tayeb Babikir Ali said that the protests were “destruction of Sudan’s properties,” adding that the state security forces were pursuing “criminals who used protests to commit robbery and theft.”
The National Congress Party revealed in Sunday’s statement that it will take part in the march, calling citizens to adopt peaceful participation in the march to demand that the regime steps down.
The Sudanese Communist Party, Arab Socialist Baath Party, and National Umma Party also expressed their support for the rally.
