Sudanese president defends government against accusations of killing protesters

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on Tuesday defended security forces against accusations of killing peaceful protesters during demonstrations organized across the nations to protest the government decision end fuel subsidies. In a televised speech at a military officers' graduation celebration, Al-Bashir accused those involved in schemes to destabilize the country of using the protests as a cover to kill innocent people and ransack and sabotage the public and private properties. He stated the government's decision to increase fuel prices was inevitable to avoid a complete economic collapse. Al-Bashir noted that the Sudanese economy has been hard hit by the secession of South Sudan whose oil exports was one of the main sources of income for Sudan's treasury. The President reiterated commitment to respect the right of peaceful demonstration and the freedom of expression, appreciating what he described as "the role of the people in aborting the recent sabotage conspiracies."