Sudanese capital enters 4th day of anti-govt. clashesJune 20, 2012 - 17:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Sudanese riot police armed with batons and tear gas fought with student protesters in Khartoum on Wednesday, June 20 said witnesses, in a fourth day of anti-government demonstrations, according to Reuters. Student groups, who have led the Khartoum rallies against planned government spending cuts, have sought to leverage anger over rising prices into a wider protest movement, but previous demonstrations have failed to gain broader momentum. The Arab-African nation has faced soaring food prices and a weakening currency since South Sudan seceded a year ago, taking with it about three quarters of the country's economically-vital oil output. On Wednesday, riot police carrying batons blocked off a major road and chased scores of students in the streets around the University of Khartoum, activists and two witnesses said. The smell of tear gas hung in the air. The student demonstrators chanted "the people want to overthrow the regime" and threw stones at the police, the witnesses said. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said on Monday Sudan would gradually abolish fuel subsidies, cull the number of civil servants on its payroll, and raise taxes on consumer goods, banks and imports to plug its budget deficit. Also on Wednesday, Sudanese authorities released an Agence France-Presse correspondent after detaining him at the University of Khartoum, the French news agency said. British national Simon Martelli had been detained at around midday on Tuesday while taking pictures and talking to students. He was held for more than 12 hours without charge, AFP reported. Officials at the security services and the Foreign Ministry were not immediately available to comment. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |