Chanting their rallying cry of 'freedom, peace, justice,' the crowds gathered in several districts of the two cities before being confronted by security forces with tear gas, witnesses said.
KHARTOUM - Eight anti-government protesters were sentenced to jail in Sudan late Thursday, state media reported, the first such punishments handed down by emergency courts introduced by President Omar al-Bashir to contain rallies demanding an end to his iron-fisted rule.
The eight protesters sent to jail for participating in protests were handed terms ranging from six months to five years by three separate courts in Khartoum set up on Tuesday to investigate violations under the state of emergency imposed by Bashir to quell the protests. It said the courts dismissed cases against a large number of accused, but scores were sentenced to jail terms ranging from two weeks to one month."We came out today because we have no alternative," Siddiq, who gave only his first name for security reasons, said.
Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch says at least 51 have been killed, including medics and children. Last week he also dissolved the federal and provincial governments and appointed 16 army officers and two officers from the feared National Intelligence and Security Service as provincial governors.
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