Eight dead in price protest in Sudan's Darfur: police

NYALA, Sudan (AFP) - Eight people were killed and more than 20 injured on Tuesday during a demonstration sparked by high transport prices in Sudan's Darfur region, police said.

"Eight citizens were killed and 24 injured, including three police who are in a serious condition," the official SUNA news agency quoted police as saying.

The statement did not give the cause of death but said officers used a "low level of force" to control the situation after demonstrators burned a petrol station and police facilities in the city of Nyala.

A witness earlier told AFP that police had fired tear gas at the demonstrators scattered in groups around the main market. He said protesters threw stones at government buildings and burned tyres in the street.

"The demonstration started because the students rejected the price of transport announced by the government," Bothina Mohmed Ahmed, spokeswoman of the South Darfur government, earlier told AFP.

She added that "other groups", whom she did not identify, attacked government property during the protest.

"But now the situation is calm and under control," Ahmed said.

"We and the security authorities have a plan to secure the town in the coming days."