Sudan’s state media said Thursday morning that the army would make an important announcement.

 This comes amid nationwide demonstrations against the rule of President Omar al-Bashir, who came to power in a military coup backed by Islamists in 1989.

"The Sudanese army will issue an important statement soon. Wait for it," a television anchor said, without giving more details.

The state media report, accompanied by patriotic music, was made as protesters gathered outside the army’s headquarters in Khartoum, calling on President Omar al-Bashir to step down.

Military vehicles were seen deployed on key roads in the capital.

The military’s latest movements come as President Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party canceled a planned demonstration to defend the 75-year-old leader on Thursday.

Protests in Sudan reached a new stage this week, with tens of thousands of people demonstrating in front of military headquarters to demand the departure of President Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges of war crimes in Darfur. He denies the charges.

Sudan has been rocked by anti-government protests that erupted on 19 December after a government decision to raise prices of bread and have since morphed into nationwide demonstrations calling for Bashir's ousting.