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RENK - 17 Feb 2020

Police meet protest organizers in Renk

Police authorities in Renk town on Monday met with leaders of the protest group whose opposition to the return to 10 states was a catalyst for demonstrations that began in the area two days ago.

President Salva Kiir on Saturday made a key compromise by cutting the 32 states back down to the original 10 -- a key opposition demand -- to pave the way for a transitional government of national unity.

President Kiir and opposition chief Machar are under international pressure to resolve their differences and form a unity government by February 22.

Renk Police Commissioner Manyok Jurkuch told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon that they held a meeting with protest organizers in Renk in a bid to heed protesters' demands.

He further said the protesters were evidently peaceful. "We agreed with the protest leaders that all forms of violence will not be tolerated. The group also presented a petition in which they reject the return to 10 states," he explained.

The top police officer said they explained to the protest organizers during the meeting that the presidential order returning the country to 10 states was taken by the country’s leadership in the spirit of compromise to secure peace.

“There were no protests in Renk town today. But some outlaws exploited the situation and the protests that erupted in the area, so they started this morning burning tyres,” he explained.

The police commissioner said calm returned to Renk town since Sunday. He disclosed that police forces have been deployed in the area to help maintain security.

But several eyewitnesses said some youths staged a limited protest today morning. They noted that some of the protesters encouraged citizens through loudspeakers to join them.