Khartoum: Sudan's defence minister announced on Thursday the military has overthrown and arrested President Omar al-Bashir and has taken charge of the country for the next two years following nearly four months of protests against his rule.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Awad Mohammed Ibn Ouf appeared on state TV, in military fatigues, following an earlier announcement of an "important statement" coming from the army on Thursday.
Ibn Ouf said after the two years, "free and fair elections" would take place.
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He said a state of emergency has been imposed for the next three months and that the military has also suspended the constitution, closed borders and the country's airspace.
A transitional military council will lead the country for two years.
Ibn Ouf also said the government and the presidency have been dissolved, and imposed a night curfew.
Al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 coup, leading an alliance of the military and Islamist hard-liners.
Over the course of his rule, he was forced to allow the separation of South Sudan and became a pariah in many countries, wanted by the international war crimes tribunal for atrocities in Darfur.
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The protests that erupted in December have been the biggest challenge to his rule.
Security forces responded from the start with a fierce crackdown that killed dozens. Al-Bashir banned unauthorized public gatherings and granted sweeping powers to the police since imposing a state of emergency in February.
Security forces have used tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition and batons against demonstrators.
