Sudan‘s head of the military, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has said the coup against the country’s ruling Sovereign Council on Monday was meant to prevent “civil war.” Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Burhan said he had kept at his home ousted prime minister Abdalla Hamdok “for his own safety.”

Protesters hit streets for a second day in capital, Khartoum, with at least 4 people having been killed in the unrest.

Phone and internet services also remained disrupted. “The dangers we witnessed last week could have led the country into civil war,” General Burhan said.

He said the military feared that Hamdok will be harmed.

“I was with him last night… and he is going about his life… he will return to his home when the crisis is over and all threats are gone.”

In a televised address on Monday afternoon, General Burhan announced a state of emergency across the country and the dissolution of the military-civilian Sovereign Council that had been ruling the country since the ouster of longtime authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir in August 2019.

A new technocrat government would lead the country to elections in July 2023, he said.

Guinea coup: Military junta warns against rebellion

The US, the UK, EU, UN and African Union have all expressed concern over the situation and demanded immediate release of all arrested political leaders.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said Sudan was among an “epidemic of coups d’etats” affecting Africa and Asia, and he urged “big powers” for “effective deterrence” through the UN Security Council.

Burhan said senior government officials who had been trying to stoke rebellion within the military and were detained on Monday would face trial. Others who are found “innocent” would be freed, he said.

Guinea’s World Cup qualifier against Morocco postponed due to coup

US President Joe Biden’s administration suspended a $700 million in emergency assistance to Sudan.

“They should first and foremost cease any violence against innocent civilians, and … they should release those who have been detained and they should get back on a democratic path,” said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

(With inputs from Associated Press)