Guns and tear gas were fired at protesters marching towards the presidential palace in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, as security forces retaliated against anti-military rule protesters on Thursday.
Police said in a statement that an officer was killed when on duty during the demonstration. He was allegedly attacked and stabbed by one of the demonstrators.
Following a coup on Oct. 25, large crowds have frequently taken to the streets calling for civilian rule.
According to medical professionals affiliated with the protest movement, at least 63 people have been killed, mostly through live ammunition and tear gas.
As compared to previous protests, the majority of bridges and roads were opened during the protest after resistance committees rescheduled it from Wednesday to Thursday. Communications were not disrupted.
Protesters in central Khartoum were seen wearing protective goggles, hard hats, masks, and gloves as they marched towards the presidential palace. Several people were removing bricks from the sidewalks as barricades.
When protesters heard police firing tear gas, they cheered.
Security forces fired heavy tear gas and stun grenades as protesters reached a few hundred meters from the presidential palace. Injured and fainted protesters were carried away by motorcycles.
Reports claimed later in the afternoon that security forces fired gunshots at protesters fleeing the protest route in a nearby neighbourhood.
Leaders of the military justify their coup as saving Sudan from chaos and say they will protect the right to peaceful protest.
