African News Agency : Welcome

Khartoum, 26 Sep - (ANA) - At least 29 people have been killed in Sudan in three days of rioting over a government decision to scrap subsidies on fuel, medical officials have said. "We have received the bodies of 21 people" since the protests began on Monday, a hospital source in Khartoum's twin city Omdurman told the AFP news agency. Another eight people were killed in other regions across the country, witnesses and families said. Activists have called for fresh protests on Thursday in Khartoum, the country's capital, where anti-riot forces have been deployed since early morning at major road intersections, an AFP correspondent said. The protests have been the largest in Sudan since President Omar al-Bashir came to power in 1989. Riots broke out in several districts of the capital on Wednesday, some near the city centre, halting public transport. The education authorities have announced the closure of schools until September 30. The internet also remained cut on Thursday, users said, but it was still not known if the reason was a technical failure or a deliberate move by authorities. The protests were triggered by a government announcement on Monday to raise prices for petroleum products. Oil prices have risen to 20.80 Sudanese pounds ($4.71) a gallon from 12.50 pounds ($2.83), while diesel has risen from 8.50 pounds a gallon to 13.90 pounds.(ANA)