At least nine people have been killed and several injured as the government troops attempt to disperse a sit-in protest in central Khartoum, Sudanese medical sources and an opposition doctors’ committee said.

Explosions and heavy machine gun fire were heard on Monday as Sudanese security forces moved on the site of the protest outside the Defense Ministry.

The Reuters news agency is quoting a Sky News Arabia TV report that a Sudanese military council spokesman says the raid targeted criminal elements near the protest site, but the protesters are safe.

The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum tweeted that the attacks on protesters “must stop.” 

The sit-in begin several weeks ago as civilians and military officials argue over the makeup of a transitional government, following the military overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in April, after mass protests against his 30-year rule.

The protesters are demanding the military hand over power to civilians.
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