![\"Sudanese](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghana-mma.com\/2019\/06\/1561281861_705_25083456-696x463.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sudanese](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanamma.com\/2019\/06\/1561281861_705_25083456-696x463.jpg\" "\\"Sudanese")
<\/div>\nSudanese protest leaders said Sunday they will insist civilian runs a planned new governing body in new talks with army rulers, as Islamists warn against excluding sharia from the political roadmap.<\/p>\n
The Alliance for Freedom and Change is determined that the country\u2019s new ruling body be \u201cled by a civilian as its chairman and with a limited military representation\u201d, it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The protesters\u2019 umbrella group said talks would resume with the military council \u2014 which has ruled Sudan since President Omar al-Bashir was deposed on April 11 \u2014 at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Talks over a transfer of power by the generals have repeatedly stalled, resulting in international pressure to return to the table after the generals suspended negotiations earlier this week.<\/p>\n
The generals insist the new body be military-led but the protest leaders demand a majority civilian body.<\/p>\n
On Sunday the protest movement raised the ante by insisting that the ruling body should be headed by a civilian.<\/p>\n
The military council is headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the generals have previously said he would lead the new governing body.<\/p>\n
Before talks were suspended the two sides had agreed on several key issues, including a three-year transition period and the creation of a 300-member parliament, with two-thirds of lawmakers to come from the protesters\u2019 umbrella group.<\/p>\n
The previous round of talks was marred by violence after five protesters and an army major was shot dead near the ongoing sit-in outside the military headquarters in central Khartoum, where thousands have camped out for weeks.<\/p>\n
Initially, the protesters gathered to demand Bashir resign \u2014 but they have stayed put, to pressure the generals into stepping aside.<\/p>\n
The protesters had also erected roadblocks on some avenues in Khartoum, paralysing large parts of the capital, to put further pressure on the generals during negotiations, but the military rulers suspended the last round of talks and demanded the barriers be removed.<\/p>\n
Protesters duly took the roadblocks down in recent days \u2014 but they warn they will put them back up if the army fails to transfer power to a civilian administration.<\/p>\n
The generals have allowed protesters to maintain their sit-in outside Khartoum\u2019s army headquarters.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Islamists\u2019 warning \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n Islamic movements rallied outside the presidential palace on Saturday night, to reject any civilian administration that excludes sharia as its guiding principle.<\/p>\n Hundreds took part in the rally, the first organised mobilisation by Islamist groups since Bashir\u2019s ouster.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main reason for the mobilisation is that the alliance (the main protesters\u2019 umbrella group) is ignoring the application of sharia in its deal,\u201d said Al-Tayieb Mustafa, who heads a coalition of about 20 Islamic groups.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is irresponsible and if that deal is done, it is going to open the door of hell for Sudan,\u201d he told AFP.<\/p>\n Bashir came to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989 and Sudanese legislation has since been underpinned by Islamic law.<\/p>\n At Saturday\u2019s rally, hardline cleric Mohamed Ali Jazuli had a warning for the military council.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you consider handing over power to a certain faction, then we will consider it a coup\u201d, he vowed as supporters chanted \u201cAllahu Akbar\u201d.<\/p>\n The protest leaders have so far remained silent on whether sharia has a place in Sudan\u2019s future, arguing that their main concern is installing a civilian administration.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n