{{Sudan will not reverse its decision to hike fuel prices despite days of deadly protests and criticism from within the ruling party, Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said. }} <\/p>\n
“No, it is not possible at all. This is the only way out,” Osman told reporters in an interview on Sunday. <\/p>\n
The near-doubling of petrol and diesel prices last Monday sparked the worst unrest in the 24-year history of President Omar al-Bashir’s regime.<\/p>\n
Authorities say 33 people have died over the past week, but activists and international human rights groups say at least 50 have been gunned down, mostly in greater Khartoum.<\/p>\n
Osman said authorities had to intervene when crowds turned violent.<\/p>\n
“This is not (a) demonstration,” he said. “They attacked the gas stations. They burned about 21.”<\/p>\n
Osman said the government knew “riots” would occur if the cost of fuel went up but the reduction of subsidies on petroleum will save billions of dollars.<\/p>\n
“Our economy cannot tolerate such support,” he said. “We have to carry on. We know it is a bit heavy for the people.”<\/p>\n
Call for measure end<\/p>\n
Sunday’s statement comes as a retort to calls by Islamic religious leaders and ruling party reformers for the government to cease fuel price increases which sparked a wave of deadly protests. <\/p>\n
“We advise the government to turn back to God and provide justice for all Sudanese people, Muslim and non-Muslim,” the unofficial group of Muslim leaders – who often criticise the regime from straying from Islam – said in a statement late Saturday. <\/p>\n
The increase in cost of fuel, which followed a similar hike last year, came as part of a series of government austerity measures trying to stabilise a stricken economy. <\/p>\n
Sudan has lost approximately three quarters of its oil production when South Sudan became independent in 2011.<\/p>\n
At present, more than two million people live in poverty in the region with 300,000 living without proper access to food or water. <\/p>\n
Source: AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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