Sudanese authorities have suspended schools nationwide indefinitely after demonstrations launched by students turned deadly, according to state news agency SUNA.
"The Secretary General of the Federal Government Bureau, Siddiq Gumaa Babal-Khair, has directed the caretaker governors of States to suspend education at all the school levels as of Wednesday," SUNA reported.
The agency said the suspension of schools was a directive of the Transitional Military Council on Tuesday.
The military rulers’ decision to close schools came a day after students staged protests over the rising costs of living in the city of El-Obeid, where security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators, according to opposition groups.
At least six people, including four students, were killed in the protests, according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors.
Sporadic protests by schoolchildren were also held in other cities.
Late on Tuesday, the head of Sudan’s transitional military council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, condemned the incident.
“What happened in El-Obeid is sad. Killing peaceful civilians is an unacceptable crime that needs immediate accountability,” al-Burhan told journalists, quoted by state television.
The UN children’s agency UNICEF called on the authorities to investigate the killings and hold the perpetrators accountable.
"No child should be buried in their school uniform," The UN agency said in a statement, calling on all parties to respect the rights of children.