Sudan police denies firing shots at protestors in East Khartoum
April 27, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese police issued a statement on Saturday denying reports that it used live or rubber bullets yesterday to disperse protestors in Om Doum neighborhood which lies along the Blue Nile River in east Khartoum.
Hundreds of Om Doum residents staged demonstrations on Friday, blockaded the main street and set tires on fire to express fury against what they say are government plans to give away part of their lands to a Saudi investor.
A teenager named Mohamed Abdel-Bagi was killed in the aftermath of yesterday’s protests but circumstances regarding his death remain unclear.
Sudan police said in a statement that Abdel-Bagi died as a result of injuries he sustained during Friday clashes but denied that it was a result of bullet wounds.
However Om Doum natives insist that the police shot directly at him.
Hundreds participated in his funeral today and vowed to seek accountability for the killing.
But the police said it used minimum force and dealt in accordance with the law to prevent attacks on public and private properties. Several persons had been injured and some protesters were detained pending prosecution, it added.
Khartoum governor chaired a special meeting of the state’s security committee to discuss the events in Om Doum. He has reportedly sought o visit the family of Abdel-Bagi to pay his condolences but his request was denied.
(ST)