53 people killed in Khartoum since December: Ministry

At least 53 protesters have been killed in Khartoum -- and another 734 injured -- since last December, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.

"Hospitals received 40 people dead on arrival, while another 13 died while receiving treatment," Babaker Mohamed Ali, the ministry's director-general in Khartoum, said Friday.

According to an April 18 report by Human Rights Watch, however, more than 100 protesters have been killed in the capital during four months of anti-regime demonstrations.

On April 11, the Sudanese army announced the removal of President Omar al-Bashir amid continued popular protests against his 30-year rule.

A Military Transitional Council (MTC) is now overseeing a two-year "transitional period" during which it has pledged to hold presidential elections.

Demonstrators, however, have remained on the streets to demand that the ruling MTC relinquish power to a civilian authority.