Amnesty says security forces committing 'murderous rampage'

Amnesty International has called for international action against Sudan's new military rulers and condemned the government's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for what it called a "murderous rampage" against protesters this week.

In its statement, Amnesty International singled out the RSF, a paramilitary force that controls Khartoum, as being a main participant in the violence.

The force, led by the deputy leader of the Transitional Military Council, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemeti, was built up from militias that fought insurgents in Sudan's western Darfur region during a civil war that began in 2003.

"The RSF, the special military force which killed, raped and tortured thousands in Darfur, brings its murderous rampage to the capital," Amnesty said. 

"Reports that bodies have been dumped in the river demonstrate the utter depravity of these so-called security forces."

Witnesses have said the RSF led the crackdown on the protest camp. Troops fired on unarmed protesters then mounted a wider crackdown in the following days, they say.

The military council has denied the force was involved in any illegal actions and said it was facing a negative media campaign "from hostile parties". 

The raid was targeting criminals in an area adjacent to the camp, it said.