Sudan general pledges to complete democratic transition

By SAMY MAGDY
Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan’s leading general has pledged to complete the country’s democratic transition, hours after arresting the prime minister and other senior officials. Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan declared a state of emergency Monday and announced that he was dissolving the country’s ruling Sovereign Council, as well as the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. He said quarrels among political factions prompted the military to intervene. Burhan said a new technocrat government would lead the country to elections. The information ministry earlier described Monday’s actions as a coup. In response, thousands flooded the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman to protest the apparent military takeover.