Biggest protests 'in living memory' hit Sudan Published duration 24 January 2019

media caption Sudan's riot police fire tear gas at protesters in Khartoum

Security forces have clashed with demonstrators in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, as anti-government protests take place across the country.

Riot police have used tear gas to try to break up the large rallies.

The umbrella group of doctors, engineers and teachers co-ordinating the protests says they have been held in at least 50 places around Sudan.

They began last month over the economy, but are now focused on removing President Omar al-Bashir from office.

Journalist Zeinab Mohammed Salih told the BBC that Thursday was the biggest day of protests in living memory.

Police reportedly used tear gas to control the crowds in several neighbourhoods in Khartoum.

Since the protests began, officials say that 26 people have so far died, but rights groups say more than 40 have been killed.

Doctors have increasingly been targeted by security forces because of their high social standing as well as the active role some have taken in organising the protests.

Some foreign journalists have been prevented from reporting events in the country.

In recent days, a number of journalists working for Al Jazeera, Turkey's Anadolu news agency and Saudi-based Al Arabiya TV have been denied accreditation.