Khartoum Braces for Million-Person March
Sudan's protest movement plans to hold a mass rally
on Thursday as it steps up pressure on the military to hand over power to
civilians following last month's overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir.
The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and
Change, a coalition led by the Sudanese Professionals Association, has called
for a million-person march to begin in Khartoum at 1 p.m. Thursday.
The protesters have been holding negotiations with
the transitional military council over the creation of a new sovereign council,
but the two sides remain divided over how large a role the generals should have
in it.
The army has been pushing for a 10-member council
including seven military representatives and three civilians.
The coalition is demanding a council made up of
eight civilians and seven generals.
The protesters fear the military intends to hold
onto power or cut a deal with other factions that would leave much of
al-Bashir's regime intact.
"We expect the march (on Thursday) to draw huge
crowds," said Ahmed al-Rabia, a leader from the protest movement.
The military council has warned it will not allow
"chaos" and urged protesters to dismantle makeshift barricades they
have set up around the main protest site outside army headquarters.
