Sudan troops move to crush pro-democracy camp, killing 30

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan’s ruling military moved to crush the protest movement opposing its grip on power as security forces overran the main sit-in site in the capital early Monday, unleashing furious volleys of gunfire, burning down tents and killing at least 30 people, witnesses and protest leaders said.With the assault, the generals signaled an end of their tolerance of the pro-democracy demonstrators, who for months have been camped outside the military’s headquarters as the two sides negotiated over who would run the country after the April ouster of longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir.After they succeeded in forcing the military to remove al-Bashir, the protesters had stayed in the streets, demanding the generals move to the background and allow civilians to lead the transition.The dispersal of the sit-in now risks escalating violence even further. But after Monday’s attack, protest leaders suspended the talks with the military council and called for a general strike and “total civil disobedience.”In addition to calling for the nighttime marches, the Sudanese Professionals’ Association also called for closing off main roads to “paralyze public life” across the country.The Forces for Declaration of Freedom and Change, which represents the protesters in the negotiations, called for toppling the military council and more street protests.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the crackdown and called for authorities to allow an independent investigation, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.