The head of Sudan’s military council has stood down a day after leading a coup that toppled long-time leader Omar al-Bashir amid a wave of protests.
Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf announced his decision on state TV. He named as his successor Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan.
It comes after protesters refused to leave the streets, saying the coup leaders were too close to Mr Bashir.
The army has said it will stay in power for two years, followed by elections.
Mr Bashir’s downfall followed months of unrest that began in December over rising prices. At least 38 people have died in the protests.
Mr Ibn Auf was head of military intelligence during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s. Mr Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over that conflict.
What happened on Friday?
Despite the removal of Mr Bashir on Thursday, demonstrators refused to disperse, camping out outside the army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, defying a curfew declared by the military.
They are demanding a transition to civilian rule before they return home.
On Friday, a spokesman for the military council said the army was not seeking power and Sudan’s future would be decided by the protesters – but said the army would maintain public order and disturbances would not be tolerated.
The military council also said it would not extradite Mr Bashir to face the ICC charges – which he denies.
It has imposed a three-month state of emergency, with the constitution suspended.
SOURCE: BBC
