Sudan Gov’t Arrests Four Opposition Figures
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Sudan’s government arrested 4 opposition politicians from the country’s Reform Now Party.
The president of Reform Now Movement, Ghazi Salahuddin Atabani told a press conference in the capital, Khartoum, that the four, including the party chief for Khartoum State and his deputy, along with three people listening to their speech were detained by security agents on Thursday.
The party members "were arrested as they gave a speech to people in a public place,” Atabani added.
The detentions come amid Bashir’s call for opponents to take part in talks to find a solution to the woes of the northeast African country.
Sudan’s western region of Darfur has been the scene of violence since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum. There has been also tribal fighting in the region.
The United Nations estimates that over 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur since the violence began, Press TV reported.
Sudanese troops have also been fighting with rebels in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile since 2011.
Sudan accuses South Sudan, which seceded from the Republic of Sudan in July 2011, of supporting anti-government rebels operating in Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan.
Sudan's economy has also witnessed a sharp slump since 2011, when the country lost most of its oil reserves due to the secession of South Sudan.
Atabani further said Reform Now Movement would not join the talks that Bashir announced in January. The dialogue is expected to start in Khartoum on October 10.
