Khartoum: Sudan widened its crackdown on the opposition by arresting 10 journalists from the Communist Party newspaper ahead of anti-government protests expected on Thursday by activists inspired by Egypt's uprising.
Sudan has used armed riot police to disperse more than a dozen demonstrations by young Sudanese across the north of the country this week.
The protests are directed against price rises and a government that demonstrators say is restricting freedoms. Security forces have surrounded universities, preventing students from spilling out onto the streets.
The protests have been small but widespread. Hundreds of arrests and beatings have fragmented the movement, with around 50 activists still detained or missing. Khartoum arrested opposition Islamist Hassan Al Turabi and 12 of his party officials ahead of the protests. None have been charged.
"The security were waiting outside our headquarters after an (opposition alliance) meeting last night and arrested 10 journalists from the al-Midan paper," senior Communist Party official Siddig Youssef said.
Hassan Gattan, a member of the party's central committee, was also arrested at his home overnight, Yousuf said.
"They later released the female reporters but they were told to report to security offices today," he said, adding eight journalists and Gattan were still being detained.
Sudan's security service was not able to immediately comment.
