Thousands demonstrate in Sudan against Bashir's rule

Activists say thousands are demonstrating in a string of neighbourhoods of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, calling for President Omar Bashir to step down.

They say hundreds also took to the streets on Friday in the railway city of Atbara north of Khartoum and Senar in central Sudan.

In Atbara, the protesters chanted "the people want to bring down the regime," the main slogan of the Arab Spring revolts of 2010 and 2011.

In the Khartoum suburb of Omdurman, Sudanese police fired tear gas on hundreds of worshippers who staged a demonstration after Friday prayers outside a mosque.

Demonstrators were chanting "freedom, peace and justice."

The protests were the latest in a wave of demonstrations which began across much of Sudan on 19 December, first against price rises and shortages but which later turned against Bashir, in power since 1989.

Opposition groups called for more anti-government rallies to be held over the next few days, as Sudanese authorities detained at least nine opposition leaders and activists ahead of Friday's protests.

A network of Sudanese journalists went on strike on Thursday in the wake of deadly protests which have so far killed 37 demonstrators, according to Amnesty International.

Earlier this week doctors also went on strike, while a group bringing together professionals from different sectors pledged to submit a demand for Bashir's resignation

Sudan is facing an acute foreign exchange crisis and soaring inflation, despite Washington lifting an economic embargo in October 2017.

Inflation is running at 70 percent and the Sudanese pound has plunged in value, while shortages of bread and fuel have regularly hit several cities.

Bashir has sought to tamp down the discontent by vowing to "take real reforms" to solve Sudan's economic woes.

But his statements appear to have done little to appease the protesters angered over economic hardship.

Egypt's foreign minister voiced support for Sudan's embattled government on Thursday, in what were the first remarks by a top regional Arab official in support of Bashir's government since protests began.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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