Sudanese police fired tear gas at dozens of protesters demonstrating against the trial of Sudanese Congress Party leader Ibrahim al-Sheikh on Thursday in An-Nadud, West Kordofan state.

Eyewitnesses told Radio Tamazuj that heavily armed security personnel cordoned off the house of al-Sheikh, where other party leaders were staying.

The security agents arrested about six cadres of the SCP and took them to an unknown location, the witnesses said.

Following the commotion, the judge in An-Nahud postponed the court session until further notice. 

Police arrested al-Sheikh last Sunday and picked up five more Congress Party members Tuesday and Wednesday.

Defence lawyer Saate El Haj said security forces withdrew Ibrahim’s file from the court without giving a clear reason.  

El Haj said he requested the return of the withdrawn file because such a withdrawal is illegal.