(Bloomberg) — Sudanese security forces clashed Thursday with protesters demonstrating the military’s seizure of power in October, with the unrest leaving at least three people dead in the capital.
Dozens more were injured as authorities fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse the crowd of thousands who had gathered near the presidential palace in Khartoum. An independent doctors’ committee and the United Office of Doctors confirmed the death toll in separate statements.
Anger has mounted in the nation after the military’s Oct. 25 seizure of power — a move that triggered concern that a shift to civilian rule after the regime of President Omar Al-Bashir was in peril. Authorities, looking to quash the unrest, have cut off internet and phone service.
Read also: Sudan Coup Leaders Tighten Grip With Jobs for Loyalists, Arrests
The clampdown by the military comes at a difficult time for Sudan, whose economy has been struggling to rebound. International donors, including the U.S. and development agencies, have suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. In addition, Sudan’s eligibility for $50 billion of debt relief through International Monetary Fund programs is also in question.
The pan-Arab satellite channel, Arabiya, reported that it’s office, which also hosts Hadath television, had been raided and some staff beaten.
Sudanese forces entered the offices of Saudi Arabian television channel Asharq in Khartoum and barred their reporters from broadcasting briefly, the channel said on its Twitter account. The security forces later evacuated the premises leaving the staff unharmed, Asharq’s General Manager Nabeel Alkhatib said on Twitter.
Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, has an agreement with Asharq to provide business content.
The Sudanese Journalists Network also said security forces raided the offices of other channels.
(Updates with troops raiding news broadcaster in sixth paragraph.)
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