Sudan unions call for 2nd march on President Omar Bashir palace

An umbrella of independent professional unions is calling on people to march on the presidential palace in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, to demand that autocratic President Omar Bashir step down.

It’s the second time that the umbrella, which enjoys the support of opposition parties, has called for the march.

On Christmas Day, thousands attempted to reach the Nile-side palace, clashing with police that used tear gas and batons to disperse them.

This time, the call, which came in a statement Sunday, is for the march to take place Monday, with the unions urging protesters to stay on the streets until they usher in 2019 after midnight.

It also called on people outside Khartoum to stage street protests.

The proposed protests would be the latest in anti-government demonstrations that began Dec. 19.