CAIRO — Sudan’s security forces arrested more than a dozen academics who joined a protest outside Khartoum University in the Sudanese capital, calling for embattled President Omar al-Bashir to step down, activists said Wednesday.
Sudan has been gripped by nationwide protests since Dec.
- The demonstrations, which show no sign of abating, were triggered by rising prices and shortages but quickly turned to calls for al-Bashir to step down.
The activists said police arrested at least 14 academics while they protested Tuesday. Their whereabouts remained unknown, they added.
The detained academics were added to opposition leaders, doctors, journalists, lawyers and students along with some 800 protesters who have been arrested in two months of protests.
Last month, authorities ordered the release of all protesters who were detained since Dec. 19. But Human Rights Watch said Monday that only 186 were reported let go and that video evidence showed signs of torture on released detainees.
The activists spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. A government spokesman did not immediately respond to phone calls and messages seeking comment.
A network of Sudanese journalists said Wednesday that police forces detained for hours at least 17 journalists who joined a protest on Tuesday in front of Information Ministry in Khartoum. It said in a statement that the detained journalists were released late Tuesday.