Sudanese police ordered to firmly deal with demonstrations

The Sudanese police on Saturday issued orders for its forces to firmly and immediately deal with growing demonstrations in the capital Khartoum against the new package of economic measures, reported Sudanese Media Center (SMC).The SMC quoted Maj. Gen. Al-Sir Ahmed, spokesman of the Sudanese Police, as saying that directives have been issued by the Director General of the Police Forces to deal with riots according to the law and at the same time deal firmly, immediately and according to the law with the groups which target properties or utilities or close the roads.Various areas in Khartoum on Saturday witnessed demonstrations in which tens of citizens participated in protests against the removal of fuel subsidies which led to an increase in the benzene prices of about 50 percent, together with a rise in the prices of related commodities.The Sudanese authorities earlier announced that they have contained limited protests that erupted in a number of areas in Khartoum on Friday without any injuries.The demonstrations started recently at Khartoum University and extended to other universities in protest against prices rise and deterioration of the economic conditions.The annual inflation rate in Sudan jumped from 28.6 percent in April to 30.4 percent in May.Last week, President Omar al-Bashir announced massive economic measures to tackle the countrys economy including government restructuring and removal of fuel subsidies.