Sudanese protesters prepare for general strike as talks with military stall

Sudanese protest leaders called on their supporters on Tuesday to prepare for a general strike after talks with military rulers stalled over who will lead an agreed three-year transition.

Protesters had reached agreement with the ruling military council on the other main aspects of the transition. However, early Tuesday, the generals who overthrew president Omar al-Bashir last month, baulked at protesters’ demands for a civilian head and a civilian majority for an agreed new council to lead the transition, AFP reported.

“In order to achieve a full victory, we are calling for a huge participation in a general political strike,” said the Sudanese Professionals Association, which took the lead in organizing the four months of nationwide protests that led to Bashir’s ouster.