Sudan's interim leader vows to 'uproot the regime'

Sudan protests.
(Image credit: MOHAMMED HEMMEAIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Change is coming to Sudan, but protesters are not yet done fighting for it.

The leaders of the protests in the capital city, Khartoum, which resulted in the ouster of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir on Thursday called on supporters to remain in the streets on Saturday. They are demanding civilian rule rather than the military council which seized power during a coup led by Defense Minister Awad Ibn Auf.

The military says it wants to hold power for two years before holding elections. But both Ibn Auf and security chief Gen. Salah Gosh resigned on Saturday as protests continued in Khartoum in an apparent concession. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman, who now heads the military council, accepted both resignations.

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Burhan, who was reportedly expected to be more conciliatory toward the protesters, reportedly made good on his reputation already. He vowed on Saturday to "uproot the regime" and said he will restructure state institutions, end the country's night curfew, and release political prisoners. Per BBC, Burhan also said that the army would maintain "peace, order, and security," launch a war on corruption, and try those who killed protesters. Burhan reportedly did not, however, agree to immediate transition to civilian rule and instead will stick with the two-year timeline.

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