Sudan activists: 'Regime' kills 16 after al-Bashir's ouster

Demonstrators gather in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, Friday, April 12, 2019. The Sudanese protest movement has rejected the military's declaration that it has no ambitions to hold the reins of power for long after ousting the president of 30 years, Omar al-Bashir. (AP Photo)

CAIRO – Sudanese activists say 16 people, including a soldier, have been killed since the military forced President Omar al-Bashir from power on Thursday following months of protests.

The Sudan Doctors Committee, an affiliate of the Sudanese Professionals Association, which has been spearheading the protests, said Saturday that 13 people were shot dead on Thursday and three others, including the soldier, were killed Friday. It says they died "at the hands of regime forces and its shadow militias."

Sudanese police said late Friday that the 16 were killed by "stray bullets," and that at least 20 people were wounded at rallies and sit-ins across the country.

Activists have welcomed al-Bashir's ouster while calling for a swift transition to a civilian government, with many fearing the military intends to retain power.