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A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 22 OcTOber 2019
Thousands protest in Sudan, call to disband ex-ruling party

By SAMY MAGDY uprising, has called for
Associated Press the appointment of re-
CAIRO (AP) — Thousands gional governors and the
of demonstrators took to formation of a legislative
the streets across Sudan body. Creating an interim
on Monday to call for dis- parliament was part of a
banding former President power-sharing agreement
Omar al-Bashir's party, the signed in August between
political organ he used to pro-democracy protesters
control the country during and the country's power-
his 30 years of autocratic ful military. The transitional
rule before being ousted in government previously said
April. it won't appoint governors
Separately, Sudan's transi- or the legislative body un-
tional government and a til it makes peace with the
main rebel faction signed a country's rebel groups. That
political declaration amid would be a crucial step,
peace negotiations that since the transitional gov-
began last week, taking ernment is looking to slash
a new step toward end- military spending in order to
ing the country's yearslong revive the battered econ-
civil wars. The two sides omy. The uprising against
also renewed a nationwide al-Bashir initially began
cease-fire for three months. against economic issues,
The protests in Khartoum In this May 14, 2008 file photo, then Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, Defense Minister Gen. but escalated into calls for
and other parts of the Abdul-Rahim Mohammed Hussein, and Deputy Chairman of the National Congress Party Nafi Ali his downfall.
country coincided with the Nafi, from left to right, address a state-orchestrated rally in the capital Khartoum, Sudan. Mohammed Hassan al-
anniversary of an uprising Associated Press Taishi, a member of the
in 1964. That push ended There were no reports of A statement by the police forts to be completed and Sovereign Council and a
six years of military rule in any clashes with police or warned against "creating achieve its goals." The ap- government negotiator,
Sudan following a wave of casualties during Monday's a state of chaos," which it pointment of Hamdok, a said Monday that they had
riots and strikes. protests. The marches re- said could lead to "unfa- respected economist, as agreed on the agenda
Sudan's current transition- newed demands for inde- vorable consequences." Sudan's top civilian leader for the negotiations with
al government came to pendent investigation into Videos circulated online in August helped lessen the Sudan Revolutionary
power after a similar cam- the deadly break-up of a showed protesters march- fears the military would at- Front, an alliance of rebel
paign of mass unrest, which protest camp by security ing in the capital and oth- tempt to cling to power. groups from the western
eventually led the military forces in June. er cities such as Atbara, Last week, he sacked sev- Darfur region. He said this
to overthrow al-Bashir. The Police blocked off main a northern transport hub eral top bureaucrats, which was the first joint cease-fire
country is now ruled by a streets Monday leading where the uprising began pleased protest leaders agreement in five years.
joint military-civilian admin- to the presidential palace in December. who want the remnants of In another first, he said the
istration, which must navi- and the military's head- Prime Minister Abdalla al-Bashir's regime purged government agreed to al-
gate a delicate path to- quarters in Khartoum — the Hamdok gave a televised from all state institutions. low humanitarian aid deliv-
ward eventual democratic site of June's deadly disper- speech marking the 1964 The Sudanese Profession- eries into conflict-affected
elections in just over three sal — said Asil Abdu, an ac- uprising, saying: "The revo- als' Association, which areas, both from inside and
years. tivist. lution needs greater ef- spearheaded the recent from outside Sudan.q

Israel’s Netanyahu gives up on forming new coalition

By JOSEF FEDERMAN marked the second time form a broad “unity” gov-
Associated Press this year that he has been ernment with Gantz, who
JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime unable to form a govern- heads the centrist Blue
Minister Benjamin Netan- ment. With Israel’s attor- and White party. But Ne-
yahu announced Monday ney general set to decide tanyahu insisted that his
that he had failed to form in the coming weeks on coalition include his tradi-
a majority government whether to indict Netan- tional allies, a collection of
in parliament, marking a yahu in a series of corrup- hardline and religious par-
major setback for the em- tion cases, the longtime ties, drawing accusations
battled Israeli leader that Israeli leader could come from Gantz that he was
plunges the country into a under heavy pressure to not negotiating in good
new period of political un- step aside. faith.
certainty. In last month’s national “During the past few
In a statement, Netanyahu election, Netanyahu fell weeks, I made every ef-
said he had worked “tire- short of securing a 61-seat fort to bring Benny Gantz
lessly” to establish a unity parliamentary majority. to the negotiating table.
government with his chief In this Oct. 3, 2019, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin But Rivlin gave Netanyahu Every effort to establish a
rival, former military chief Netanyahu speaks during his party's faction meeting in the first opportunity to form broad national unity gov-
Benny Gantz, but been re- Jerusalem. a government because ernment, every effort to
peatedly rebuffed. Facing Associated Press he had more support — 55 prevent another election,”
a Wednesday deadline, to President Reuven Rivlin, While Netanyahu remains seats — than Gantz, who he said. “To my regret, time
Netanyahu said he was who will now ask Gantz to at the helm of his Likud was supported by only 54. after time he declined. He
returning the “mandate” try to form a coalition. party, his announcement Netanyahu had hoped to simply refused.”q