Push for more Sudan protests after police block march

Sudanese police fired tear gas at demonstrators planning to march on the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum on Monday (Dec. 31), prompting organizers to push for further rallies after deadly anti-government protests, AFP reported.

Crowds of men and women chanting "freedom, peace and justice" and "revolution is the people's choice" gathered in downtown Khartoum, but they were quickly confronted by police, witnesses told AFP.

Demonstrators gathered in groups in and around the downtown area, but were unable to converge to march towards the palace of President Omar al-Bashir.

As police fired tear gas, protesters were seen taking refuge in small lanes of the capital's usually busy business district, which was deserted on Monday.

Most shops and businesses in downtown Khartoum were shut ahead of the planned march.

Monday's march was called by a group of professionals including doctors, teachers and engineers, who organised a similar rally on December 25.

Rights group Amnesty International says 37 people have been killed in protests so far.

Sudan is facing an acute foreign exchange crisis and soaring inflation despite Washington lifting an economic embargo in October 2017.