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Sudan

Sudan police, opposition clash ahead of elections

21 Jan 2010 19:23:45 GMT

Source: Reuters

KHARTOUM, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Police clashed with supporters of an independent electoral candidate in east Sudan, arresting 31 people and injuring nine, opposition activists said on Thursday.

Political parties have repeatedly complained of harassment, vote-buying and intimidation by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) during the registration for the first multi-party elections in 24 years in April.

The NCP denies any irregularities.

"A very large number of police attacked them (my supporters) while they were still in their buses and injured nine people," said Hamed Mohamed Ali, who is vying for the post of governor of Red Sea state, rich in gold and with ports carrying handling vital oil exports.

Ali is a disillusioned former member of the NCP.

He said his supporters had not asked his or police permission for a rally in Port Sudan but had driven around town in buses on Tuesday beeping and shouting.

"It was just like after a football match win," he said, adding the current governor and NCP candidate had used governmental cars and ambulances to call his supporters out for a march earlier on Tuesday without obstruction.

The NCP denies using state resources for electioneering, which is forbidden by election law.

Ali said the last of the 31 arrested had been released on Thursday. Nine were injured as police used tear gas and beat his supporters, he said.

"This makes us afraid of what they are going to do during the elections," he said.

Police in Khartoum and Port Sudan were unable to comment.

Sudan's constitution promises freedom of assembly but protests are rare and are usually ended violently by authorities.

Nominations for the presidential, parliamentary and governors elections end on Jan. 27. (Reporting by Opheera McDoom; editing by Andrew Roche)