Thousands of Sudanese rally in Khartoum to honour 'martyrs of the revolution'

Thousands of Sudanese took part in marches across the country on Thursday to honour comrades killed in the months-long protest movement that has rocked the northeast African country.

The rallies came a day after protest leaders and army rulers inked a power sharing deal to form a joint civilian-military body tasked with installing a civilian administration - the main demand of demonstrators.

Witnesses said men and women chanting revolutionary slogans and waving Sudanese flags headed towards the Green Yard, a prominent square in Khartoum, heeding calls from a key protest group.

"The rallies are a tribute to those honourable martyrs of the December revolution," the Sudanese Professionals Association said in a statement.

"Civilian rule, Civilian rule," and "Freedom, peace, justice," the crowds chanted as they headed to the square, witnesses said.

The Sudanese Professionals' Association, which has spearheaded months of protests, says security forces fired tear gas to disperse Thursday's demonstrations in the capital, Khartoum. There were no reports of serious injuries.

The SPA spearheaded the initial campaign that erupted in December against the government of now ousted leader Omar al-Bashir over its decision to triple the price of bread.

Those protests swiftly escalated into a nationwide movement that led to the army overthrow of Bashir in April.

But protesters continued taking to the streets against the ruling generals who seized power after deposing Bashir.

Tensions between the generals and protesters surged after a 3 June raid on a longstanding Khartoum sit-in that led to deaths of dozens of demonstrators.

On Wednesday the protesters and generals finally agreed a deal that paves the way for a transitional civilian administration that would govern for just over three years.

The talks, however, are set to continue Friday as the two sides push to sort out remaining issues.

Agencies contributed to this report.