The number of people killed in a crackdown on pro-democracy protests in the Sudanese capital Khartoum has risen to 60, an opposition group says.
Members of a feared paramilitary group are reported to be roaming the streets attacking civilians.
The violence began when forces of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) opened fire on unarmed protesters on Monday.
The military has faced international condemnation for the attack.
Many Khartoum residents blame the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the violence. The paramilitary unit – formerly known as the Janjaweed militia – gained notoriety in the Darfur conflict in western Sudan in 2003.
Meanwhile, an attempt at the UN Security Council to condemn the violence was blocked on Tuesday by China, backed by Russia.
Demonstrators had been occupying the square in front of the military headquarters since 6 April, days before President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown after 30 years in power.
Their representatives had been negotiating with the TMC and had agreed a three-year transition that would culminate in elections.
On Tuesday TMC leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced negotiations with protesters were over, all previous agreements were cancelled, and elections would be held within nine months. Demonstrators had demanded a longer period to guarantee fair elections and to dismantle
the political network associated with the former government.
However, on Wednesday Gen Burhan made another televised speech in which he said the TMC was willing to resume negotiations.
“We regret the events,” he said, without elaborating.
Sudan’s military has faced international condemnation for its attack, but there were clear signs this was likely to happen. The country has been driven backwards by a military elite intent on holding on to power.
The TMC has scrapped agreements reached with the opposition Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), saying this will speed up the transition to democratic elections. That plan is likely a fiction.
The military also enjoys another advantage. In an age of international division, the notion of an “international community” pressuring the regime is fantasy. Sudan’s crisis has exposed the reality of international politics – that force can have its way, without consequence, if the killers and
torturers represent a valuable asset to other powers.
It is impossible to say whether the FFC can come back as a street-driven force. What will not change – in fact what has been deepened – is the alienation of people from their rulers.
