Sudan's president pledges to release detained journalists

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has taken a newly conciliatory tone with protesters, saying they are mostly young with poor prospects, while also pledging to release detained journalists.

“Most of the protesters are young and there are factors that drove them to take to the streets, including inflation, which led to higher prices - and the limited job opportunities that don’t match the number of graduates,” Bashir told journalists invited to the presidential palace for a “discussion of recent events”.

Bashir's remarks late on Wednesday appeared to be part of a new strategy to soften the government's stance towards the protests, after the defence minister and prime minister made similar remarks in recent days.

Sudan has been gripped by nationwide demonstrations since mid-December, with crowds taking to the streets initially over price increases. The protests quickly escalated into rallies against Bashir's three decade rule.

Bashar said all journalists who have been jailed in connection with the protests would be released. Activists estimate the number of journalists in prison at 16.

The morality laws have been criticised by human rights organisations for restricting the freedom of women by, for example, making it a crime for a woman to wear trousers.

Activists say the decades-old law targets mainly women, often accusing them of "indecent dressing and immoral behaviour".

Hefty punishments including fines and jail terms are imposed on women found guilty under the legislation.

The protests, which started on December 19, were triggered by price increases, limits on cash withdrawals and other economic hardships but have since shifted focus to Bashir's 30-year rule.

Police officers have used tear gas and occasionally live bullets to disperse the demonstrations.