Sudanese protest leaders called for a mass rally amid mounting tensions over the composition of a joint civilian-military council to run the country following the removal of Sudan's longtime ruler, Omar al-Bashir.

Iran Press/Africa: In a statement, the political parties and movements behind the months-long anti-government protests urged supporters to gather for a "million-strong march" on May 2 to keep up the pressure for civilian rule.

The appeal came hours after Sudan's military rulers warned against "chaos" and called on protesters to clear roads and railways, saying seven provinces were running low on essential supplies, MiddleEastEye reported. 

Mohammad Naji al-Assam, spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), the main protest group, said the ruling military council was "not serious" about transferring power to civilians.

"With the passing of time the powers of the military council are expanded and this is a very big danger for the Sudanese revolution," he added.

Protesters want the council, which took power after toppling al-Bashir on April 11, to cede power to a 15-member body made up of eight civilian representatives and seven military figures.

But the council has rejected that, and instead proposed a 10-member council comprised of seven military representatives and three civilians.

Protesters at the sit-in were "getting more and more apprehensive," al-Assam said, adding, "The feeling is the military are trying to take over the revolution that they started."

While the SPA has warned of military attempts to disperse the sit-in outside the army headquarters and called on protesters to rebuild barricades, Lieutenant General Salah Abdelkhalik, another member of the ruling military council, told reporters security forces "will never use violence against protesters."

He also distanced the council from the former government of al-Bashir, saying, "We are part of the revolution and not part of the former regime as people view us."

The Sudanese military toppled Bashir on 11 April but demonstrators, led by the Sudanese Professionals Association, have vowed to stay on the streets until there is a move to civilian rule.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in the country's western Darfur region.101/211/202

 

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