Head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi and eventually appointed himself president-for-life. He has fallen out with his Islamic mentor, Hasan al-Turabi, tried to impose shariah on the Christian and animist south, resulting in its secessesion, and attempted to
ArabizeDarfur by unleashing the barbaric Janjaweed on it. Sudan's potential prosperity has been pissed away in warfare that has left as many as 400,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. Omar has been indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Court but nothing is expected to come of it.
in a palace coup, defied a night-time curfew to keep up four months of mass demonstrations on Friday.
Protest leaders dismissed the transitional military council formed by top brass after they toppled Bashir on Thursday, as the "same old faces" from the old regime which had ruled the country with an iron fist for three decades.
Meet the New Boss, same as the Old Boss
Demonstrators demanded a civilian body to lead the transition to democracy and bring an end to the multiple conflicts which have pushed the country into worsening poverty.
Most shops and offices were closed on Friday which is the day of prayer and rest in Sudan.
Vast crowds were expected to throng the streets of Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman after the main weekly Moslem prayers at noon raising fears of confrontation.
Washington called on the military council "to exercise restraint and to allow space for civilian participation within the government".