Sudanese opposition condemns security crackdown

Following almost two weeks of student-led protests over spending cuts, opposition parties condemn government crackdown and demand release of jailed protesters

Sudanese opposition leaders have condemned Tuesday's crackdown by security forces on country-wide anti-austerity protests, which have entered their eleventh day.
Hatem El-Ser, former presidential candidate and a leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), stated that the ruling National Congress Party was carrying out unjust policies and attempting to ignite conflict by pursuing its economic policies.
He called on the authorities to release all prisoners detained since the start of the protests.
"If the government continues to follow through with the budget cuts and other measures it will result in a further crisis," El-Ser said.
He said the government had become increasingly isolated internationally and was facing increased opposition internally.
The DUP was willing to take part in solving the economic and political crisis, he added.
For its part, the United Democratic Front (UDF) Party, a Southern Sudanese Party, has stated that the vicious wave of arrests carried out by security forces on students and opposition forces "is yet a new chapter of the state's brutality."
In an official statement, the party called for unity between political forces to demand the release of all prisoners jailed during the crackdown.
The moderate-Islamist National Umma Party said the regime's human rights violations had broken its international treaties and it should be held accountable for its actions.
Sudan's finance minister stated on Monday that his government was sticking with its decision to cut fuel subsidies despite the protests.
Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on Sunday downplayed the protests and claimed they were caused by a small number of "agitators."
The latest austerity measures carried out by the government raised the price of a gallon of petrol from 8.5 Sudanese pounds to 12.5 Sudanese pounds.