Sudanese students protest in the capital Khartoum on July 30, 2019 to condemn the incidents in the town of al-Obeid. AFP file photo
Asharq Al-Awsat
Thursday, 1 August, 2019 - 12:00
A top Sudanese general has said the six protesters including four school children killed at a rally this week in Sudan's central city of Al-Obeid were shot dead by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Tragedy struck Al-Obeid, 400 km southwest of Khartoum, on Monday when the protesters were shot dead during a rally against a growing shortage of bread and fuel in the city.
The rally was initially stopped with batons by a group of RSF forces who were guarding a nearby bank, General Jamal Omar from the country's ruling military council told reporters in the city late Wednesday, quoted by Cairo-based Al-Ghad television network.
"This action led to a reaction from some students who threw stones at the forces," Omar, who heads the council's security committee, said.
"This made some members of the force act in their individual capacity to open fire on protesters. We have identified those who fired live ammunition that led to the killing of the six."
Sudan's official news agency SUNA reported that the accused have been handed over to authorities in North Kordofan state.
They were sacked following orders from the RSF command and would face trial, it said.
An African Union mediator called on Wednesday for a speedy trial for those responsible for shooting the children.
Tragedy struck Al-Obeid, 400 km southwest of Khartoum, on Monday when the protesters were shot dead during a rally against a growing shortage of bread and fuel in the city.
The rally was initially stopped with batons by a group of RSF forces who were guarding a nearby bank, General Jamal Omar from the country's ruling military council told reporters in the city late Wednesday, quoted by Cairo-based Al-Ghad television network.
"This action led to a reaction from some students who threw stones at the forces," Omar, who heads the council's security committee, said.
"This made some members of the force act in their individual capacity to open fire on protesters. We have identified those who fired live ammunition that led to the killing of the six."
Sudan's official news agency SUNA reported that the accused have been handed over to authorities in North Kordofan state.
They were sacked following orders from the RSF command and would face trial, it said.
An African Union mediator called on Wednesday for a speedy trial for those responsible for shooting the children.
