Sudan PM survives assassination attempt

CAIRO－Sudan's prime minister says he survived a "terrorist attack" after an explosion and gunfire targeted his motorcade in the capital, Khartoum.

Abdalla Hamdok, an economist, tweeted he was "safe and in good shape" following the explosion on Monday. Sudanese state TV said Hamdok had been heading to his office when the attack took place.

Hamdok also tweeted a photo of himself smiling and seated at a large desk, while a TV behind him showed news coverage reporting he had survived.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The country's top prosecutor, Taj al-Ser Ali al-Hebr, said prosecutors were investigating the "professionally plotted" attack.

A statement from the prime minister's office said the attackers used explosives and firearms, and that a security officer was lightly wounded. The statement was read by Faisal Saleh, Sudan's information minister and interim government spokesman. The convoy was hit near the Kober Bridge, he said.

Footage posted online showed two white, Japanese-made SUVs typically used by Sudan's top officials parked on a street, damaged with widows broken. Another vehicle was badly damaged in the blast. Several dozen people were seen at the site of the attack, chanting: "With our blood and soul, we redeem you, Hamdok."

Action condemned

The Sudanese Freedom and Change Alliance, part of the government coalition, condemned the incident in a statement as "a terrorist attack".

"The terrorist attack constitutes an extension of attempts by forces intending to abort the Sudanese revolution," the alliance said.

It added that the strength of the people alone will abort all the attempts targeting the revolution, calling on the people to take to the streets to express unity and cohesion.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UN chief Antonio Guterres was "shocked and saddened" to learn of the attack and expressed "full solidarity" with the prime minister and people of Sudan.

Irfan Siddiq, the British ambassador in Khartoum, said the blast "is a deeply worrying event that must be investigated fully." He tweeted that the Sudanese prime minister's office had confirmed Hamdok and his team "are all fine, with no injuries".

Hamdok on Monday met with Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, who was visiting Sudan. Kamel also met General Abdel Fattah Burhan, head of the joint military-civilian sovereign council. He said Egypt "stands by the government and the Sudanese people against the attempted attack", according to a statement from the sovereign council.

Monday's blast came less than two months after an armed revolt from within Sudan's security forces shut down the capital's airport and left at least two people dead. The tense stand-off between the armed forces and intelligence officers paralyzed street life in several parts of Khartoum, along with another western city.

Agencies Via Xinhua