Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Sudan's parliament on Monday approved a nationwide state of
emergency of six months instead of one year as ordered by President Omar
al-Bashir to quell protests against his iron-fisted rule.
"A
six-month state of emergency has been approved by a majority," the
speaker of parliament Ibrahim Ahmed Omer said after lawmakers voted on
the decree issued by Bashir, according to an AFP correspondent.
President
Bashir declared a state of emergency from February 22 after an initial
crackdown failed to suppress the protests that have rocked his
administration for more than two months.
Deadly protests erupted on December 19 after a government decision to triple the price of bread.
People have died
The
demonstrations quickly escalated into nationwide rallies against
President Bashir's administration, with analysts calling it the biggest
challenge to his rule stretching back three decades.
Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so
far, while Human Rights Watch has given a death toll of at least 51
including medics and children.
A parliamentary
committee set up to look into the decree recommended that the state of
emergency be shortened to six months instead of one year as originally
ordered by President Bashir.
Parliament, overwhelmingly
dominated by lawmakers from President Bashir's ruling National Congress
Party (NCP), on Monday approved the recommendation after discussion.
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