{"id":644328,"date":"2019-05-19T07:50:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-19T07:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"
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The deputy leader of Sudan\u2019s military council voiced his enthusiasm for democratic elections in front of an audience of tribal leaders and senior diplomats Saturday, while seeking to deflect blame for violence in Khartoum this week.<\/p>\n

The clashes threatened to derail the council\u2019s talks with an alliance of protest and opposition groups pushing for a swift transition to civilian rule after the fall of former President Omar al-Bashir last month.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the youthful leader of Sudan\u2019s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has emerged as the most prominent member of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that ousted and arrested Bashir following months of protests.<\/p>\n

Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, has considerable power. His RSF are deployed across Khartoum, and he is close to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which between them pledged $3 billion in aid to Sudan late last month.<\/p>\n

Free and fair elections<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Saturday he spoke for nearly 20 minutes after breaking the Ramadan fast to an audience including the top official in the U.S. embassy and the Saudi ambassador, as well as local and international media.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocracy is consultation \u2026 that\u2019s it, we want real democracy,\u201d he said, in a speech punctuated by applause and laughter. \u201cWe want a man who comes in through the ballot box. \u2026 We want free and fair elections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of those present were from Sudan\u2019s western Darfur region. Human rights groups accused militias that Hemedti commanded of genocide in the war that began there in 2003, allegations Bashir\u2019s government denied.<\/p>\n

\u200bShooting at barricades<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Monday and Wednesday, violence broke out in areas of Khartoum where security forces had been trying to clear barricades erected by protesters, including around a sit-in outside the Defense Ministry that started April 6.<\/p>\n

Protesters are pushing for civilian rule and for justice in the deaths of dozens of demonstrators since December.<\/p>\n

Some accused the RSF of shooting at demonstrations last week, and witnesses saw troops in RSF marked vehicles opening fire.<\/p>\n

Hemedti said those responsible had been found inside Khartoum University and the sit-in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese people have been arrested and confessed on camera,\u201d he said, adding that they would be presented to the public later.<\/p>\n

At least four people were killed Monday and dozens wounded. After at least nine more people were wounded Wednesday, the TMC said it was suspending the talks for 72 hours.<\/p>\n

Talks are to resume Sunday evening. The two sides have agreed to a transition lasting three years before elections, with a legislative council on which opposition and protest groups would have two-thirds of the seats.<\/p>\n

However, they have been split over the balance of a mixed military-civilian sovereign council that would hold ultimate power.<\/p>\n

Bashir along with senior allies is being held in prison in Khartoum. Hemedti said officials from Bashir\u2019s regime who had fled abroad would be brought back to face justice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot arrest the entire National Congress Party. There is no prison that would contain it with its 7 million members,\u201d he added, referring to Bashir\u2019s political party.<\/p>\n

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