US secretary of state welcomes Hamdok’s release in call with Sudan’s deposed PM

The US says Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has spoken on phone to Sudan’s deposed civilian prime minister, following Abdalla Hamdok’s return home.

Mr. Hamdok was arrested and detained during Monday’s military coup.

In a statement, the US State Department said Mr. Blinken welcomed Mr. Hamdok’s release and reiterated his call to the Sudanese armed forces to free all the civilian leaders rounded up in the last 24 hours.

Protests against the seizure of power by the military continued into the night, with crowds in the capital Khartoum marching and blocking main roads.

Earlier, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan sought to justify the coup by accusing political groups of inciting civilians against the security forces.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES