Sudan Negotiations Cancelled After Pupils Shot Dead

Talks between protest leaders and the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) have been called off after five schoolchildren were shot dead in Al-Obeid.

The chairman of the council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has condemned the killings, which took place at a rally protesting the shortages of fuel and bread. However, demonstrators have accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of being responsible. 

The talks scheduled for Tuesday were to be held to discuss outstanding areas for agreement following the signing of a power-sharing deal earlier this month.

Following the deaths the authorities have introduced a curfew in four towns in North Kordofan state and classes have been suspended in the area. Protest group the Sudanese Professionals Association has called for rallies to call for justice.

According to local groups more than 250 people have lost their lives in protest-related violence since demonstrations first took place in December last year.