Sudanese doctors appeal for support as hospitals and staff are attacked

Sudanese doctors have appealed for international support as security forces in the country target hospitals and detain staff in a bid to end a month long series of demonstrations against the regime of president Omar al-Bashir.

Doctors are among professional groups to have played a major part in the insurgency, triggered initially by riots on 19 December in the town of Atareb over the price of fuel and bread. Since then, the protests have spread across the country and broadened into a campaign to oust Bashir, who came to power in a coup 29 years ago.

Security forces have used tear gas and live rounds of ammunition against the demonstrators, pursuing them into hospitals where they had sought protection and treatment. The Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate reports that Omdurman …