Sudanese opposition warn of 'dire consequences' amid political turmoil

Twenty-two Sudanese opposition political parties and groups on Tuesday said they will call on President Omar al-Bashir to step down and transfer power to a "sovereign council" and a transitional government that would set a "suitable" date for democratic elections.

The parties include some Islamist factions that were once allied with al-Bashir, who seized power in a 1989 military coup, as well as breakaway groups from large traditional parties, like the Democratic Unionist and Umma parties.

"This government does not have the ability to overcome the economic crisis because the economic crisis is basically a political crisis," Mubarak Elfadel, Chairman of the Umma (Reform) Party, told reporters at a new conference.

The opposition said in a memorandum they plan to present to al-Bashir on Wednesday.

It warned that failure to transition to a new political system would have "dire consequences" for Sudan.

The parties said the proposed administration would introduce freedoms, democracy and halt the ongoing strife in the western regions of Kordofan and Darfur, and the Blue Nile region south of the capital, Khartoum.

There was no immediate reaction from the government to the memorandum, which was read to reporters in Tuesday's news conference in the Sudanese capital.

At least 19 people, including two security personnel, have been killed since protests erupted on 19 December, after the government raised the price of a loaf of bread from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents).

Protesters are also angry at rising inflation, economic mismanagement and government crackdowns on free speech.

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.

Demonstrations organised by professional bodies have called on the Sudanese leader to "step down" following recent deadly crackdowns in the country.

This follows criticism from the UN at the government's deadly crackdown on protesters.

Rights group Amnesty International says 37 people have been killed in protests so far.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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