UN Disputes Sudanese Govt. Reported Death Toll In December 2018 Protests - Spokesman

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2019) The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has disputed the Sudanese government's report that 24 people died during protests in December, saying the actual number may be almost double, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a press briefing on Thursday.

"The government says 24 people have died in the course of the protests, but according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), other credible reports suggest the death toll may be nearly twice as high," Dujarric said.

In late December, demonstrators took to the streets in Sudan to protest the rising costs of bread as well as the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

The Sudanese government introduced a state of emergency in a number of cities and reported that 24 people had died in the protests.

However, Amnesty International said that 37 protesters had been shot dead by Sudanese security forces over five days of demonstrations.

Dujarric said the OHCHR has called on the Sudanese government to protect people's rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and has urged all sides in Sudan to avoid using violence.

The Sudanese government reported that it has arrested more than 800 people during the protests.