Sudan's top general sworn in as leader of new ruling body

General Abdel-Fattah Burhan was sworn in before the country's top judge, Maulana Abbas Ali Babikir. He would lead the 11-member Sovereign Council for the first 21 months, followed by a civilian leader for the next 18.

Khartoum: Sudan's top general Abdel-Fattah Burhan was sworn in as the leader of a joint military-civilian body, which is to run the country for a little over three years until elections can be held. He'll lead the 11-member Sovereign Council for the first 21 months, followed by a civilian leader for the next 18.

According to media reports, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan was sworn in before the country's top judge, Maulana Abbas Ali Babikir on Wednesday.

Burhan chaired a military council that took over after ousting autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April following months of protests against his three-decade-rule.

The Sovereign Council was established under a power-sharing agreement between the military and the protesters, following pressure from the US and its Arab allies, amid growing concerns that political crisis may ignite a civil war.