1 Student Killed in Sudan Protests Inspired by Egypt Unrest

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir addresses the audience during the inauguration of new bridge in Khartoum, Sudan, 07 January 2011. EPA/BGNES

Student protests that gripped Sudan over the weekend sparked by the civil unrest in neighboring Egypt have claimed one life.

Student protesters in Khartoum clashed with police on Sunday as they demanded the resignation of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Communicating via the social networking site Facebook, organizers called for a street demonstration on Jan. 30 to protest Sudan's poor economic state and political oppression, international media reported.

After Tunisia and Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, and Yemen have also seen growing civil unrest and anti-government protests.

The protest coincided with the data of announcement of the preliminary results from the referendum for secession of oil-rich Southern Sudan where over 99% of the voters have voted for independence.

The demonstration in Sudan's capital Khartoum and other major cities have not been as large-scale as those in Egypt and have been concentrated in several universities.

The unrest in Sudan is a "social network" movement as the protesters have used social networks not only to organize their rallies but also to post images of clashes with police.

The death of Mohamed Abdelrahman, the student who died as a result of the wounds he got when he was beaten by the police, has been announced on Sudan's Facebook group called "Youth for Change" which has some 16 000 and calls for an overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir's government. His Omdurman Ahaliya University was closed by the authorities over the student protests.

At least six universities in Sudan saw student protests that continued late into the night on Sunday.

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