Sudan police attack activists in front of human rights commission

An activist holds a poster of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a protest in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC. (Getty)

Sudanese activists trying to deliver a petition critical of the government to the state-appointed human rights commission were beaten and blocked from entering the building, Reuters reported on Saturday.

The commission, which has largely avoided criticizing the Sudanese government, condemned their actions after plain clothes police arrived at the scene with batons tried to bar around 40 activists from entering their building.

"Plain clothed agents beat several activists trying to submit their petition and also journalists covering the protest," a witness told Reuters. 

Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, was indicted by the International Criminal Court in 2008 for 'crimes against humanity'. The current regime has faced down a slew of protests this year over economic problems and corruption within the government.