Sudan’s government has released 20 opposition figures arrested since last month after they called for protests against rising fuel prices, their parties announced on Monday.

Sudanese Congress Party spokesman Mohamed Arabi said in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj yesterday that 16 members were freed on Sunday, adding that dozens of other opposition figures are still imprisoned.

Another opposition group, the Future Forces for Change, announced that four of its members had also been released.

Groups of protesters have staged protests in Khartoum city and some other cities since the authorities issued a decision increasing petrol and diesel prices in November.