At least eight people have been killed in protests that have swept across Sudan for a second consecutive day amid rising public anger over soaring prices and other economic woes.

Authorities on Thursday declared a state of emergency in the eastern city of Gadarif, where six protesters died during clashes with riot police, legislator Al-Tayeb al-Amine Tah told local broadcaster Sudania 24 on Thursday, without providing further details.

"The situation in Gadarif has become dangerous and the protests have developed to include fires and theft and it's now out of control," Mubarak al-Nur, its independent member of parliament, told Reuters news agency.

Two protesters were also killed in the northeastern city of Atbara, where police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators.

Authorities also imposed a curfew on the city after protesters torched the headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP).

"The protests began peacefully and then turned to violence and vandalism ... We declared a state of emergency and a curfew and the closure of schools in the city," Hatem al-Wassilah, the governor of the Nile River state.

Scenes from anti-Gov demonstrations in the city of Atbara in north east Sudan triggered by bread crisis. pic.twitter.com/lJ9pysJfP7 — Wasil Ali (@wasilalitaha) December 19, 2018

Residents told Al Jazeera that the protests were triggered on Wednesday by a government decision to raise bread prices from one Sudanese pound ($0.02) to three Sudanese pounds ($0.063).

Police on Thursday fired tear gas to break up a crowd of around 500 people in the capital, Khartoum, then chased them through back streets and made arrests, a witness said.

Some of the demonstrators called for the "fall of the regime", a slogan that was common during the Arab Spring uprisings that swept through the region in 2011. Police said "limited" protests in Khartoum had been contained.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Sudanese government said the protests of the two previous days were "dealt with in a civilised way without repression or opposition".

"Peaceful demonstrations were derailed and transformed by infiltrators into subversive activity targeting public institutions and property, burning, destroying and burning some police headquarters," the spokesperson was quoted as saying to the official Sudan News Agency.

"The crisis is known to the government and is being dealt with."

Prices triple

Anger has been rising in the country over the rising costs of bread and fuel and other economic hardships, including skyrocketing inflation and limits on bank withdrawals.

Sudan's economy has struggled to recover from the loss of three-quarters of its oil output - its main source of foreign currency - since South Sudan seceded in 2011, keeping most of the oilfields.

The country's economic woes have been exacerbated in the past few years, even as the United States lifted 20-year-old trade sanctions on Sudan in October 2017. Washington has kept Sudan on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, which prevents Khartoum from accessing much-needed financial aid from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Bread prices have more than tripled since the start of this year after a government decision to stop state-funded imports of wheat.

Officials had hoped the move would create competition between private companies importing wheat, and therefore act as a check on price rises - but a number of bakeries have since stopped production, citing a lack of flour.

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This forced the government to increase flour subsidies by 40 percent in November.

Meanwhile, the value of the Sudanese pound has slumped by 85 percent against the US dollar this year, while inflation soared to nearly 70 percent in September.

In October, Sudan sharply devalued its currency from 29 pounds to the dollar to 47.5 after a body of banks and money changers set the country's exchange rate.

The move led to further price increases and a liquidity crunch, while the gap between the official and black market rates has continued to widen.

The economic crisis is one of the biggest tests faced by al-Bashir, who took power in a coup in 1989.

In recent months, he has dissolved the government, named a new central bank governor and brought in a package of reforms, but the moves have done little to improve the situation.

In a separate development on Wednesday, leading opposition figure Sadiq al-Mahdi returned to the country after nearly a year in self-imposed exile.

Mahdi was overthrown in 1989 by a group of military commanders close to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's National Congress Party.

"The regime has failed and there is economic deterioration and erosion of the national currency's value," Mahdi, who heads the Umma party, told thousands of his supporters.

His party has argued that al-Bashir must go in order to improve the country's image abroad and attract crucial investment and aid.</s>(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The death toll from protests over price hikes in Sudan has risen to nine, an opposition party spokesman said on Friday, amid a state of emergency in two regions.

Eastern al-Gadarif state and northern Atbara state are both under emergency rule since protests over rising bread and fuel prices broke out on Wednesday.

“Six people were killed in al-Gadarif and three others were killed in Atbara,” Mohamed Zaki from the Umma party, said.

He alleged that some died after being arrested and others were shot at the protests.

On Thursday, Mubarak al-Nur, a member of parliament, said two students had been killed.

Sudanese Minister for Information, Osman Bilal acknowledged that the police had used teargas to break up the protests, but while he had heard reports of deaths, he could not give a toll.

“The protests went violence and protesters are destroying civilians properties,” Bilal said, in defence of the government crackdown, adding, however, that they were investigating reports of deaths.

There were protests in January over the same issue, with police using teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters in the capital Khartoum, and similar protests were held in Sudan in late 2016 after the government

 cut fuel subsidies.

The oil-rich country’s economy was negatively affected when it was split to form South Sudan in 2011.

The government of President Omar al-Bashir is also battling several rebel groups.(/NAN)</s>KHARTOUM (SUDAN): Eight demonstrators were killed in eastern Sudan on Thursday, officials said, during clashes with riot police on the second day of protests over the rising price of bread. A government decision to raise the price of bread this week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) sparked protests across the country on Wednesday.

The protests spread on Thursday to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where riot police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators near the presidential palace, witnesses said. "Six were killed and a number of people were wounded" in the eastern city of Al-Qadarif, Al-Tayeb al-Amine Tah told local broadcaster Sudania 24, without providing further details.

The toll included a university student whose death during demonstrations in Al-Qadarif had been reported earlier in the day. "The situation in Al-Qadarif is out of control and the student Moayed Ahmad Mahmoud was killed," said Mubarak al-Nur, a lawmaker in the city 550 kilometres (340 miles) from Khartoum. Nur called on authorities "not to use force against demonstrators, who are asked to peacefully exercise their right" to protest.

Two other protesters were killed in the city of Atbara, around 400 kilometres east of Khartoum, governorate spokesman Ibrahim Mukhtar said.

Police in Atbara fired tear gas to disperse protesters just hours after authorities imposed a curfew on the city because demonstrators had torched the headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP). Angry protesters on Thursday set fire NCP headquarters in two other locations, witnesses said

Demonstrators in Al-Qadarif "threw stones at banks (in the city centre) and smashed cars," resident Tayeb Omar Bashir told AFP by phone.

They then "moved to the ruling party headquarters near the market and torched it completely", he added. Demonstrators then moved towards the police station where they called for "freedom" and chanted "the people want the fall of the regime".

Protests in Dongola, 500 kilometres north of Khartoum, "started with university students who were joined by others when they reached the city centre", an eyewitness told AFP by phone. "They attacked the headquarters of the NCP and set it ablaze," the witness said.

In Atbara, "some 1,500 demonstrators tried to enter the city (from a suburb) calling for the fall of the regime. Riot police intercepted them and fired tear gas at them," an eyewitness said.

The demonstrations stopped in most cities as night fell and curfews came into force, the authorities said, but witnesses said they continued in Khartoum. The bread shortage has hit Sudan's cities for the past three weeks, including the capital.

In the past year, the cost of some commodities has more than doubled in Sudan, where inflation is running at close to 70 per cent and the pound has plunged in value.

Sporadic protests broke out in January this year over the rising cost of food, but they were soon brought under control with the arrest of opposition leaders and activists. Sudan had significant oil reserves until South Sudan gained independence in 2011, and the north-south split saw the country lose three-quarters of its reserves.</s>A student demonstrator was killed Thursday in eastern Sudan, a local official and relatives told AFP, amid mounting protests over the rising price of bread.

"The situation in Al-Qadarif is out of control and the student Moayed Ahmad Mahmoud was killed," said Mubarak al-Nur, a lawmaker in the city 550 kilometres (340 miles) from the capital Khartoum.

Mahmoud was a university student, he said.

Nur called on authorities "not to use force against demonstrators, who are asked to peacefully exercise their right" to protest.

A government decision to raise the price of bread this week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) sparked protests across the country on Wednesday.

Angry protesters on Thursday set fire to the headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) in two locations, witnesses said.

Demonstrators in Al-Qadarif "threw stones at banks (in the city centre) and smashed cars," resident Tayeb Omar Bashir told AFP by phone.

They then "moved to the ruling party headquarters near the market it torched it completely", he added.

Demonstrators then moved towards the police station where they called for "freedom" and chanted "the people want the fall of the regime".

Protests in Dongola, 500 kilometres north of Khartoum, "started with university students who were joined by others when they reached the city centre", an eyewitness told AFP by phone.

"They attacked the headquarters of the NCP and set it ablaze," the witness said.

In the city of Atbara, around 400 kilometres east of Khartoum, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters just hours after authorities imposed a curfew on the city because demonstrators had torched its NCP headquarters.

"Some 1,500 demonstrators tried to enter the city of Atbara from (a suburb) calling for the fall of the regime," an eyewitness said.

"Riot police intercepted them and fired tear gas at them," the witness added.

The bread shortage has hit Sudan's cities for the past three weeks, including the capital.

In the past year, the cost of some commodities has more than doubled in Sudan, where inflation is running at close to 70 percent and the pound has plunged in value.

Sporadic protests broke out in January this year over the rising cost of food, but they were soon brought under control with the arrest of opposition leaders and activists.

Sudan had significant oil reserves until South Sudan gained independence in 2011, and the north-south split saw the country lose three quarters of its reserves.</s>, KHARTOUM, Sudan, Dec 21 – Sudan deployed troops in the capital Khartoum and other cities on Friday, witnesses said, after eight demonstrators were killed in clashes with riot police during protests over increased bread prices.

A government decision to raise the price of a loaf of bread this week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) has sparked protests across the country.

On Thursday, riot police in Khartoum fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators near the presidential palace, witnesses said.

Six demonstrators were killed in the eastern city of Al-Qadarif and two others in Atbara, also east of Khartoum, officials said on Thursday.

On Friday, the weekly day of rest, calm returned to the capital and the cities that were rocked by the deadly protests, witnesses reported.

In Khartoum, traffic was backed to normal but police patrolled some of the streets while in the north of the capital soldiers deployed around petrol stations and banks.

The police driving in patrol cars were seen carrying clubs and tear gas canisters while the troops held Kalashnikov assault rifles, the witnesses said.

An AFP reporter said lines formed outside bakeries in north Khartoum as residents waited to buy bread.

Residents in Al-Qadarif and Atbara also reported that security forces had deployed to secure government buildings and banks.

“Today the city is calm and most of the shops in the main market have reopened,” Mohammed Sharif Omar said in a telephone interview from Al-Qadarif.

But he said that army vehicles were stationed outside banks and government buildings.

On Thursday angry protesters torched the headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party in Atbara and set fire to NCP offices in two other locations.

And in Al-Qadarif, demonstrators threw stones at banks and smashed cars before torching the NCP headquarters in the city, according to a resident.

Sudan has been facing a mounting economic crisis over the past year.

The cost of some commodities has more than doubled, inflation is running at close to 70 percent and the pound has plunged in value.

The cost of bread has also risen and shortages have been reported for the past three weeks across several cities, including Khartoum.

Protests broke out in January over the rising cost of food, but they were soon brought under control with the arrest of opposition leaders and activists.</s>KHARTOUM
• Sudan deployed troops in the capital Khartoum and other cities yesterday, witnesses said, after eight demonstrators were killed in clashes with riot police during protests on Thursday over increased bread prices.

After Friday prayers at noon, police forces fired tear gas to disperse dozens of protesters in the cities of Omdurman and Atbara and the state of North Kordofan, witnesses said.

There were also small-scale demonstrations across at least seven neighbourhoods in the capital Khartoum, but they were short-lived, witnesses said.

Police had stepped up their presence outside Khartoum's main mosques ahead of an anticipated third day of demonstrations.

A government decision to raise the price of a loaf of bread nationwide this week from one to three Sudanese pounds (from about three to nine Singapore cents) has sparked protests across the country.

On Thursday, riot police in Khartoum had fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators near the presidential palace, witnesses said.

Six demonstrators were killed in the eastern city of Al-Qadarif and two others in Atbara, also east of Khartoum, officials said.

The demonstrations were among the biggest since crowds came out in protest against cuts to state subsidies in 2013, when many also called for a new government - a rare act in a state dominated by the army and security services.

Yesterday, the weekly day of rest, police patrolled some of the streets in Khartoum while in the north of the capital soldiers were deployed around petrol stations and banks. The police driving in patrol cars were seen carrying clubs and tear gas canisters while the troops held Kalashnikov assault rifles, witnesses said.

An Agence France-Presse reporter said lines formed outside bakeries in north Khartoum as residents waited to buy bread.

Residents in Al-Qadarif and Atbara cities reported that security forces had been deployed to secure government buildings and banks.

Al-Qadarif resident Mohammed Sharif Omar said in a telephone interview that army vehicles were stationed outside banks and government buildings.

Angry protesters had on Thursday torched the headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) in Atbara and set fire to party offices in two other locations.

And in Al-Qadarif city, demonstrators threw stones at banks and smashed cars before torching the NCP headquarters in the city, according to a resident.

Sudan has been facing a mounting economic crisis over the past year. The cost of some commodities has more than doubled, inflation is running at close to 70 per cent and the Sudanese pound has plunged in value.

The cost of bread has also risen and shortages have been reported for the past three weeks across several cities, including the capital Khartoum.</s>Hundreds of Sudanese took to the streets of three cities Wednesday to protest against the rising price of bread, with demonstrators setting fire to a ruling party headquarters, witnesses said.

Against a backdrop of growing economic woes in the country, demonstrations were staged in Port Sudan, Atbra and Nhoud, witnesses told AFP on the phone from the three cities.

The protests were sparked by the government's decision to raise the price of bread from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents).

Witnesses were unable to say whether or not there had been any injuries or arrests during the demonstrations.

In Atbra, around 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of Khartoum, angry protesters set fire to the headquarters of the National Congress Party of President Omar al-Bashir, said resident Ahmad Mohammed Hussein.

The authorities responded by announcing they had imposed a curfew in Atbra from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.

"The protest began with the arrival of students in the city centre who were joined by residents," said resident Mubarak Abdelrahim.

The police "tried to disperse them with truncheons but they continued to demonstrate by setting fire to tyres," he added.

In Port Sudan, around 500 people, most of them students, marched in the streets chanting against the high cost of living, said Hussein Idriss, a resident in the Red Sea port city.

Shops had closed after the authorities decided to hike the price of bread, he added.

Similar demonstrations were held in Nhoud, with students marching and shouting "No to hunger", witnesses in the city said.

The bread shortage has hit Sudan's cities for the past three weeks, including the capital Khartoum.

In the past year, the cost of some commodities has more than doubled in Sudan, where inflation is running at close to 70 percent and the pound has plunged in value.

Sporadic protests broke out in January this year over the rising cost of food, but they were soon brought under control with the arrest of opposition leaders and activists.

Sudan had significant oil reserves until South Sudan gained independence in 2011, and the north-south split saw the country lose three quarters of its reserves.</s>Breaking bread may bring people together, but baking bread seems to intimidate many home chefs.

At least, that’s the response I get from others when I make this bread. Everyone always appears stunned that I whipped up a loaf of French bread so easily and that it’s so good. But it actually is really easy, just five ingredients and five easy steps, and voila! You’ve got a delicious loaf of bread that will impress and satisfy dinner party guests or that friend coming by for a glass of wine.

Smother it with butter, pesto (See the December 13 Reporter), Brie, figs and goat cheese, or anything you’d like! My nine-year-old son loves it too and has me make it for him and his friends during movie time when he hosts sleepovers.

1. Combine the water, honey, salt and yeast in a glass bowl. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until there’s some bubbling, foamy stuff on top.

2. Add a bunch of flour. I use regular white organic flour and usually start with a full 3½ cups and add as I knead.

3. Keep kneading until it is no longer sticky. You want your dough to be sticking to itself, not your fingers. So keep adding flour and keep kneading until that happens.

4. Form the dough into a loaf shape. Cover with a towel and let sit on the counter for 20 minutes (or on top of the preheating oven if your kitchen is cold). This is the time to set the oven to 400 degrees.

5. After 20 minutes, cut slits in the top of the dough and bake for 16 to 20 minutes.

Variations can be made by adding garlic and oregano, or cinnamon and raisins, or whatever you dream up!

1. In a medium bowl, combine the goat cheese, olive oil, honey and half of the tarragon, shallots and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper.

2. In a separate bowl, toss the figs with the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and remaining tarragon, shallots and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Spread the goat cheese mixture on the sliced bread, then top with the figs.

Cook’s notes: You can saute the figs before mixing them with the herb mixture. To make crostinis, toast the bread slices in the oven before topping them with the figs and goat cheese.</s>With Paleo, Keto and Gluten-free diets all the rage, bread has gotten a bad rap over the last few years. Not anymore. Facebook’s 2019 Topics & Trends report is out, and bread is back for 2019. Pass the butter…

Click here to LIKE River 105 on Facebook</s>KHARTOUM: A student demonstrator was killed Thursday in eastern Sudan, a local official and relatives told AFP, amid mounting protests over the rising price of bread.

"The situation in Al-Qadarif is out of control and the student Moayed Ahmad Mahmoud was killed," said Mubarak al-Nur, a lawmaker in the city 550 kilometres (340 miles) from the capital Khartoum.

Mahmoud was a university student, he said. Nur called on authorities "not to use force against demonstrators, who are asked to peacefully exercise their right" to protest. A government decision to raise the price of bread this week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) sparked protests across the country on Wednesday. Angry protesters on Thursday set fire to the headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) in two locations, witnesses said.

Demonstrators in Al-Qadarif "threw stones at banks (in the city centre) and smashed cars," resident Tayeb Omar Bashir told AFP by phone. They then "moved to the ruling party headquarters near the market it torched it completely", he added.

Demonstrators then moved towards the police station where they called for "freedom" and chanted "the people want the fall of the regime". Protests in Dongola, 500 kilometres north of Khartoum, "started with university students who were joined by others when they reached the city centre", an eyewitness told AFP by phone.

"They attacked the headquarters of the NCP and set it ablaze," the witness said. In the city of Atbara, around 400 kilometres east of Khartoum, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters just hours after authorities imposed a curfew on the city because demonstrators had torched its NCP headquarters. "Some 1,500 demonstrators tried to enter the city of Atbara from (a suburb) calling for the fall of the regime," an eyewitness said. "Riot police intercepted them and fired tear gas at them," the witness added.
Protests break out across Sudan over rising prices of bread and fuel, resulting in at least eight deaths.