Sudan’s military overthrew President Omar al-Bashir and announced it would rule the oil-producing North African nation through a transitional council for the next two years, after four months of anti-government protests. Activists condemned the action as a palace coup.
First Vice President and Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf was sworn in late Thursday as head of the transitional council, broadcaster Arabiya reported. In a televised address earlier, he announced a three-month state of emergency, a suspension of the constitution, the release of political prisoners and a month-long 10 p.m.-to-4 a.m. curfew. Al-Bashir is under house arrest, he said.
