Sudanese police tear gas disrupts funeral of slain protester

Riot police fired teargas in Khartoum on Saturday morning to disperse a growing demonstration after the funeral of a 28-year-old pharmacist who was killed by a police bullet on Friday. He took part in one of the demonstrations against the hike of fuel prices after the Friday prayer. The demonstration started directly after the funeral of Salah Mudahir Sanhuri in the area of Burri in Khartoum. After the mourning several women started to shout ‘Bashir, you are a killer!’ Moving towards Manshiat the number of protestors quickly swelled to an estimated 2,000. While people chanted slogans for the downfall of the government, the police arrived and started to throw tear gas into the crowd. Some participants were hit with batons, they complained through social media. Some media reported the police firing bullets at people. The police spokesperson acknowledged on Saturday through the state-owned SUNA news agency, that four people were killed during the demonstrations following the Friday prayers. He said the police was not sure who had fired the fatal bullets and were still investigating. The most extensive demonstrations since the Bashir government came into power in 1989 started last Sunday after the government announced it would stop subsidising fuel.  Based on interviews with medical staff, Radio Dabanga concluded by the end of Thursday that 111 people were confirmed dead with most casualties in Wad Madani (south-east of Khartoum) and Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman. On Friday Radio Dabanga confirmed an additional six people killed by police bullets, but it had no confirmation from doctors about reports of many more casualties that day. The Security Services released a correspondent of Al Arabiya TV after he was summoned for questioning on Friday. His office has been closed, as has that of Sky TV Arabic. The Information Minister Ahmed Bilal has accused “foreign media” of inciting unrest in Sudan and described the protesters as a group of “troublemakers”.The reporters of Al Sahafa newspaper have stopped working, they announced. The pro-government newspaper is among the few still appearing on newstands. Others have been closed or refuse to go to print due to complete censorship. US condemns violence The USA has condemned the violence of the past five days: “The United States condemns the government of Sudan’s brutal crackdown on protesters in Khartoum, including the excessive use of force against civilians that has reportedly resulted in dozens of casualties,” US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, according to a report by AFP. “Such a heavy-handed approach by Sudanese security forces is disproportionate, deeply concerning, and risks escalation of the unrest.” The US government is “alarmed by reports that the Sudanese government has arrested or detained civil society activists, shut down independent media, and restricted access to the Internet and cell phone networks; activities such as these inhibit peaceful expression of citizens’ grievances,” Psaki said. “The United States condemns violence by government forces and protesters, and urges restraint on both sides.” She added: “We also call on the government of Sudan to respect the universal rights of its citizens, including the freedoms of speech, assembly, and peaceful protest.”Psaki urged the Khartoum government “to provide the political space necessary for a meaningful dialogue with the Sudanese people about the political and economic challenges facing their country.”News photo: Demonstrations after the funeral of Salah Mudahir Sanhuri in the area of Burri in Khartoum (Twitter)