Sudan swears in new PM, Abdalla Hamdok, veteran ex-UN economist

Sudan on Thursday appointed Abdalla Hamdok as its new Prime Minister. His appointment comes as Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan was sworn in as leader of the new Sovereign Council. Hamdok was sworn in as transitional prime minister, he has worked as a senior economist for the UN in Euthopia since 2011. "The government's top priorities are to stop the war, build sustainable peace, address the severe economic crisis and build a balanced foreign policy," he told reporters.

Crisis began in Sudan after the military council came to power by toppling long-time president Omar al-Bashir in April on the back of months of protests, but demonstrations had continued as the Alliance for Freedom and Change demanded the generals step aside.

Abdalla Hamdok was nominated by Sudan's protest leaders. The Alliance for Freedom and Change protest umbrella "have agreed on the appointment of Dr Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister," the statement had said.

The statement was issued by the Sudanese Professionals Association, a trade union alliance which has played a big part in the protest movement.