<span style="color: #222222;">In Sudan, police fired tear gas today at protesters taking part in the first day of a civil disobedience campaign, called in the wake of a deadly crackdown on demonstrators.<br />'' <br />'' The latest bid by demonstrators to close off streets in the capital Khartoum comes nearly a week after a deadly raid on a sit-in outside army headquarters which left dozens dead.<br />'' <br />'' The bloody crackdown prompted the Sudanese Professionals Association, SPA, which first launched protests against longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in December, to announce a nationwide civil disobedience campaign starting today.<br />'' <br />'' The SPA said the movement will end only after the military rulers, who took over after Bashir's ouster two months ago, transfer power to a civilian government.<br />'' <br />'' Khartoum residents have mostly remained indoors over the past few days and the downtown business district was largely shut today.<br />'' <br />'' Buses were not running in several districts, but private vehicles were ferrying passengers in some areas.<br />'' <br />'' Airlines have scrapped most of their Sudan flights since the deadly raid.</span><br />''  <br />