Sudan protesters defiant despite police crackdown

Tue Feb 1, 2011 6:38pm GMT

[-] Text [+]

* Protests continue despite police crackdown

* Rights groups condemn use of force against protesters

By Khaled Abdelaziz

KHARTOUM, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Sudanese students defied arrests and beatings on Tuesday, pressing ahead with anti-government protests inspired by demonstrations in neighbouring Egypt.

Opposition activists blame the government for rising food prices and have been protesting since Sunday around the country. They plan more demonstrations on Feb. 3.

On Tuesday, some 200 students demonstrated outside al-Nilein university in Khartoum before hundreds of police beat them back and surrounded the university buildings with 20 vehicles.

Protests in Sudan have so far been small. Police have used force to quickly disperse any gatherings, illegal without prior permission. Rallies are rarely permitted in Sudan.

Late on Monday students in Gezira, Sudan's farming heartland, and young people in the busy Khartoum suburb of al-Kalakla gathered chanting slogans against rising prices and repression. Continued...

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