Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has been ousted and arrested, the country’s defence minister says.
Speaking on state TV, Awad Ibn Ouf said the army had decided to oversee a two-year transitional period followed by elections.
Ibn Ouf also added that a three-month state of emergency was being put in place effective immediately.
Thursday’s extraordinary events brings to an end the nearly 30 years of iron rule by Al-Bashir.
Protests against Mr Bashir, who has governed Sudan since 1989, have been under way for several months.
Meanwhile, the main group that has been organising the demonstrations called for them to continue on Thursday, despite the military intervention.
“I announce as minister of defence the toppling of the regime and detaining its chief in a secure place,” Mr Ibn Ouf said in a statement.
Mr Ibn Ouf said the country had been suffering from “poor management, corruption, and an absence of justice” and he apologised “for the killing and violence that took place”.
He said Sudan’s constitution was being suspended, border crossings were being shut until further notice and airspace was being closed for 24 hours.
As the news broke, crowds of protesters celebrated outside army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, embracing soldiers and climbing on top of armoured vehicles, BBC writes.
Sudan’s intelligence service said it was freeing all political prisoners, state-run Suna news agency reported.
Mr Bashir is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accuses him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s western Darfur region.
