AP

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan's major opposition parties threatened late on Thursday a total boycott of the country's first multiparty elections in decades, citing irregularities and government bias.

Opposition leaders gave themselves 24 hours to consult with their parties before making a final decision. A boycott would shatter the credibility of the landmark contests which were meant to stabilize the fractious country and could spark renewed unrest and bloodshed.

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Cairo, Egypt (AP) -- The U.N. and a U.S. advocacy group warned that the detention of three senior southern Sudanese politicians during a crackdown Monday on pro-reform protesters in Khartoum could undermine the country's upcoming elections and its fragile north-south peace deal.

Police fired tear gas and used batons to break up a rally in the Sudanese capital that saw thousands calling for reforms ahead of April's presidential and national elections.

Authorities had banned the gathering and deployed security and military troops in and around the suburb of Omdurman ahead of the event.

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