Sudan’s powerful pro-democracy groups are calling for mass rallies on Saturday to protest against last month’s military takeover in a bid to maintain pressure on the military.

Iran PressAfrica: The call by the Sudanese Professionals’ Association and neighborhood resistance committees came late on Tuesday as hundreds gathered in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country to protest against the October 25 coup.

At least 12 people have been killed and about 300 wounded in street protests since the military takeover.

Activists say they were shot by soldiers, but army head Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan has denied military involvement and said the killings are being investigated.

Although protests in recent days were smaller than those in the aftermath of the coup, central Khartoum remained significantly quieter on Wednesday than it was before the military takeover. Pedestrian traffic was scarce and most shops were doing little business.

On Wednesday, four universities suspended classes in protest of the coup. Two of the four are in Khartoum, one in the eastern region and one south of the capital. Schools in the capital reopened on Sunday, but few pupils attended. The internet was cut off for the 16th consecutive day on Tuesday, despite a court ruling ordering for the service to be restored. Phone service has been erratic.

On October 25, Gen Al Burhan dismissed the civilian-led government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and detained several ministers. He also declared a nationwide state of emergency and said he would appoint a government of technocrats to run the country until elections in 2023.

Until then, he explained, the military would be the guarantor of the democratic transition and Sudan’s stability and security.

The coup provoked strong international condemnation and the suspension of vital aid to the poor nation of more than 40 million people.

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