As thousands of Sudanese continued to protest outside the defense ministry a day after the overthrow of autocratic ruler President Omar al-Bashir, EU Diplomatic Chief, Federica Mogherini, requested the Sudanese army to quickly hand-over the power to a civilian government.
"Only a credible and inclusive political process can meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people and lead to the political and economic reforms the country needs," Mogherini said in a statement on Thursday.
The United States on Thursday urged Sudan's army to bring civilians into government, after ousting veteran leader Omar al-Bashir, saying an announced two-year timeline was too long.
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The United States calls "on transitional authorities to exercise restraint and to allow space for civilian participation within the government," State Department spokesman, Robert Palladino told reporters on Thursday.
"The Sudanese people should determine who leads them and their future and the Sudanese people have been clear and are demanding a civilian-led transition," he said.
"The United States position is the Sudanese people should be allowed to do so sooner than two years from now," he added.
The United States had been trying to rectify relations with Sudan after years of tension with Bashir, who took office in 1989, and formerly welcomed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
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Since December, Sudan has witnessed persistent protests sparked by rising food prices that quickly escalated into wider calls for al-Bashir's departure, reported Al- Jazeera.
The latest crisis escalated on April 6 when thousands of demonstrators began a sit-in outside the army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. Dozens of people have been killed in protest-related violence since the start of the demonstrations.
Members of Winnipeg's Sudanese community are cautiously celebrating the coup that brought down the man who has ruled Sudan for the past three decades, and who is accused committing crimes against humanity during country's civil war, reported CBC.
"We are all celebrating in one way or another," said David Atem, who fled Sudan and came to Winnipeg in 2001.
Palladino said that the United States was "suspending" the so-called Phase II talks, in which the United States was considering removing Khartoum from the US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, but also said, “we remain open to engagement.”
Bashir remains wanted by the International Criminal Court, for the bloody campaign in the western Darfur region that Washington has described as genocide.
Palladino said that the United States supported accountability on Darfur, but declined to specify whether Bashir, or the coup leader, Defense Minister Awad Ibnouf should face extradition.
"We believe that the victims of Darfur deserve justice and that accountability is essential for achieving a stable and lasting peace in Darfur," he said.
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He also said, "The United States continues to call for those responsible for the horrific crimes that were committed in Darfur to be held accountable for those actions.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
