Witnesses say Sudanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in the capital Khartoum after the government lifted fuel subsidies.

They say protesters angry at the austerity measures chanted Tuesday against President Omar al-Bashir, who has ruled the country for more than two decades.

The witnesses spoke anonymously by telephone for fear of reprisal.

Sudan's loss of its main oil-producing territory with the independence of South Sudan in 2011 was a punch to its fragile economy.

Last year, an initial attempt to cut subsidies of fuel and food sparked similar protests but were quelled by heavy crackdowns on protesters, activists and journalists.

AP