Sudan's Omar al-Bashir declares state of emergency

"I announce imposing a state of emergency across the country for one year," Mr Bashir said in a televised address to the nation on Friday.

Earlier, Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Services (NISS) said that Mr Bashir would be stepping down.

Mr Bashir has been the focus of anti-government protests in recent weeks.

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He asked parliament to postpone constitutional amendments that would allow him to run for another term.

Mr Bashir also said the demonstrations were an attempt to destabilise the country and earlier insisted that there could only be a change of government if it was determined through the ballot box.

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The demonstrations started over cuts to bread and fuel subsidies in December but later morphed into anger at Mr Bashir's 30-year rule.

ned since the protests began. Rights groups say more than 40 people have been killed in clashes with security forces.

Protest organisers have vowed to continue demonstrating until Mr Bashir leaves his post, AFP news agency reported.

Mr Bashir, 75, had initially struck a defiant tone after winning elections several times since coming to power in a coup in 1989.

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