Sudan cracks down on opposition ahead of protests

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan widened its crackdown on the opposition by arresting 10 journalists from the Communist Party newspaper ahead of anti-gvernment protests expected on Thursday by activists inspired by Egypt's uprising.

Sudan has used armed riot police to disperse more than a dozen demonstrations by young Sudanese across the north of the country this week.

The protests are directed against price rises and a government that demonstrators say is restricting freedoms. Security forces have surrounded universities, preventing students from spilling out onto the streets.

The protests have been small but widespread. Hundreds of arrests and beatings have fragmented the movement, with around 50 activists still detained or missing. Khartoum arrested opposition Islamist Hassan al-Turabi and 12 of his party officials ahead of the protests. None have been charged.



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