Sudan to release all political detainees amid protests

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Sudan has decided to release all political detainees, the country's Ministry of Information said Tuesday.

“The chief of the National Intelligence and Security Services NISS has decided to release all the detainees arrested during the recent incidents,” said a news release by the Council of External Information, which is part of the Ministry of Information.

Anti-government protests have continued in Khartoum and other cities, according to the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA).

In the meantime, Aamir Ibrahim, the head of a government investigation committee to probe the killing of the protesters, told reporters the death toll has risen since the beginning of demonstrations more than a month ago.

“We can confirm that the death toll of the people killed during the protests has accelerated to 30, including 6 deaths in River Nile State, 9 in Gadaref State, 3 in White Nile State, 3 in Northern Sudan and the remaining in Khartoum,” Ibrahim said.

Opposition groups said the number of the deaths is more than 50, while human rights organizations put the number at 40.

Sudan’s protests have continued for six weeks.