Sudanese student killed in food prices protest

KHARTOUM, Jan 7 (KUNA) -- A Sudanese student was killed and a few others injured amid a protest in West Darfur over the sudden rise in bread prices on Sunday.
The students were involved in a protest after discovering an increase in the price of their breakfast, Fadalelmola Al-Haja, governor of the southwestern state, said in a statement, adding that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
Elsewhere, Minister of State for Interior Babiker Digna denied any knowledge of widespread protests across the country due to the bread price increase.
Nevertheless, he underlined that freedom of expression was a legal right but that destruction of public property was "prohibited and not permitted." Meanwhile, authorities arrested several Sudanese Congress Party leaders and confiscated the Sunday editions of six local newspapers without any elaboration.
Opposition parties have been urging anti-government protests after bread prices almost doubled due to the government's decision to switch to private wheat importers. (end) mmm.sd