Sudanese teacher dies in detention after protests

The 36-year-old man's body had bruising and showed signs that he was beaten, his family said. Police officials said he had died of poisoning.

He was arrested at his home on Thursday, after taking part in protests in the town of Khashm al-Qirba.

Demonstrations erupted in Sudan in December after a government decision to triple the price of bread unleashed years of frustration due to deteriorating living conditions and growing hardship. 

Officials say 30 people have died in protest-related violence, while rights group Human Rights Watch says at least 51 have been killed.

On Sunday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir went on a charm offensive with rallies across the country, pledging to bolster rural development.

Addressing hundreds of villagers in North Kordofan state at a televised event he promised to bring clean drinking water to rural areas "across Sudan" and open a new hospital in the region.

The speech came after he inaugurated a new 340-kilometre (210 miles) highway linking North Kordofan to Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum.

"Building such a road in present economic conditions is not an easy thing to achieve," said Bashir, after being escorted to the stage by dozens of men on camels. 

"Along this road we will bring electricity to boost the region's growth."

Bashir's attempts to rally support have so far failed to halt the wave of discontent, with the group leading the demonstrations calling for fresh protests over the next few days starting on Sunday night.

Bashir and other senior Sudanese officials have repeatedly said that the government can be changed only through elections. 

The leader, who came to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989, is considering running for a third elected presidential term in polls due next year.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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