Sudan's military rulers said on Thursday they had thwarted several coup attempts and that some officers had been arrested over the deadly dispersal of protesters at a sit-in in Khartoum earlier this month.

Key points: Opposition-linked medics have said 118 people were killed in a crackdown on June 3

Opposition-linked medics have said 118 people were killed in a crackdown on June 3 Protesters in Khartoum are demanding that the military hand over power to civilians

Protesters in Khartoum are demanding that the military hand over power to civilians Ousted former president Omar al-Bashir has been charged with corruption

Medics linked to the opposition have said 118 people were killed in the crackdown on June 3, while the military council has put the toll at 61.

Dozens of bodies were pulled from the Nile river.

Two different groups of people suspected of involvement in the attempted coups had been arrested, the Transitional Military Council's spokesman said.

One group consisted of five individuals while the other had more than 12 members, he said.

Ruling Military Council spokesperson Shamseddine Kabbashi said coup attempts had been thwarted. ( AP )

The council itself took power in a coup on April 11 when military officials ousted and detained former President Omar al-Bashir after months of protests against his 30-year autocratic rule.

An area outside the defence ministry in Khartoum became the focal point of fresh protests as demonstrators demanded the military hand over power to civilians.

Stalled talks between the council and an alliance of opposition groups over who should control a transition towards elections then collapsed after security forces crushed the protest sit-in on June 3.

The council said Thursday that some officers had been arrested in connection with the crackdown.

It did not elaborate, but the results of an investigation into the matter would be announced on Saturday, council spokesman Shamseddine Kabbashi said.

Ousted Omar al-Bashir charged

Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April after 30 years in power. ( Reuters: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah )

The African nation's state prosecutors said on Thursday (local time) they had completed their investigation into former president Omar al-Bashir and charged him with corruption.

The charges were related to laws on "suspected illicit wealth and emergency orders," the office said, without giving more details.

Bashir had already been charged in May with incitement and involvement in the killing of protesters.

Prosecutors had also ordered his interrogation on suspicion of money laundering and financing terrorism.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 19 seconds 19 s The coup failed to stop pro-democracy protesters in Khartoum

Meanwhile, human rights groups have criticised an ongoing internet shutdown in Sudan.

In an apparent response to the criticism, Mr Kabbashi said social media posed a threat to the country.

"We do not allow that at the moment," he said.

Violence sparks international concern

Sudanese Americans rally outside the White House in Washington on Saturday in solidarity with pro-democracy protests in Sudan. ( AP: Andrew Harnik )

The bloodshed in Sudan has prompted concern from world powers including the United States, which sanctioned Sudan under Bashir over its alleged support for militant groups and the civil war in Darfur.

Stability in the nation of 40 million is crucial for a volatile region struggling with conflict and insurgencies from the Horn of Africa to Egypt and Libya.

The military council has been bolstered by support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which between them have offered $3 billion in aid.

Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Khartoum to mediate between the military council and the opposition.

After meeting US envoy Tibor Nagy on Wednesday, the main opposition alliance said it would only participate in indirect talks and it would impose other conditions.

A protester flashes the victory sign in front of burning tires and debris near Khartoum's army headquarters in Sudan. ( AP )

Speaking at a press conference, council spokesman Mr Kabbashi said the United States had given it several pieces of advice.

"But they are not orders," he said, while also rejecting the idea of an international investigation.

"We do not accept it because we are a sovereign state and we have our judicial apparatus."

Reuters