In an address on state television, Defence Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said Bashir, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1989, was under arrest in a “safe place” and a military council was now running the country. Sudanese sources said Bashir was at the presidential residence under heavy guard. Bashir, 75, was a master at playing rival factions among security services, the military, Islamists and armed tribes off against each other.
