Military Leaders Affirm Loyalty To President Amid Protests

Sudanese military leaders say they will not allow ongoing protests to unseat President Omar Bashir, reports the Sudan Tribune (Paris). 

During a meeting on Wednesday, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad Ibn Ouf and the Chief of General Staff Gen. Kamal Abdel-Marouf told senior officers that giving in to protesters demands would lead the country into chaos. 

Protesters who attack the army will be punished, said Abdel-Marouf. Those leading the demonstrations are hostile to Sudan and hurting the country's reputation, he said, as cited by Reuters. 

Ibn Ouf said that attempts to sow division among the military would fail. 

Earlier this month, Bashir told soldiers he would step down for another army officer or following elections, rejecting any concessions to protests that have grown since December, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). 

On Tuesday, the National Intelligence and Security Service ordered the release of all those detained during demonstrations. 

Arrests have continued, including the daughter of Sudanese opposition figure Sadiq al-Mahdi, reported Agence France-Presse. 

At least 30 people have died since protests erupted in December. Demonstrations initially centered on a dramatic increase in the price of bread but have morphed into a broader anti-government movement calling for the ouster of Bashir.