Sudanese Prime Minister Moataz Moussa declared on Saturday that protesters, who have taken to the streets of the country since December, have “legitimate” demands in calling for better living conditions. Students, activists and other protesters have held almost daily demonstrations across Sudan since December 19, calling for an end to economic hardships and mounting a sustained challenge to President Omar al-Bashir´s three decades in power. "There are problems and we are working on solving them," Moussa told reporters, referring to Sudans economic troubles and lack of services. "There is a voice that must be heard and must be respected, despite the presence of political parties. There are legitimate demands and demands that must be expressed." The governments latest tally stands at 30 killed and about 400 wounded, but these figures have not been updated in days. Bashir has shown no sign of being prepared to concede any power and has blamed the protests on foreign agents, challenging his rivals to seek power through the ballot box. Sudan has been rapidly expanding its money supply in an attempt to finance its budget deficit. But that has caused spiraling inflation and a steep decline in the value of the countrys currency on foreign exchange markets. Meanwhile, in the eastern province of Kassala thousands of residents poured out onto the streets to denounce the death of a protester last week, officials and activists said. The protester, Ahmed al-Khair, was a 33-year-old school teacher who was detained last Thursday and pronounced dead in custody on Friday evening. Activists said al-Khairs death raises the toll of the protests to 53. An estimated 2,000 protesters have also since been wounded, many shot in the eye with birdshot and some losing limbs from live ammunition, according to the activists, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The authorities refused to provide a cause of death, but al-Khair’s body showed signs of beating, said his family that is planning on filing charges against the police. They also spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Al-Khairs funeral quickly turned into a protest, with thousands chanting: "We are all Ahmed!" and "just fall," the slogan and Twitter hashtag of the December 19 demonstrations. Kassalas police chief denied any police wrongdoing and blamed al-Khairs death on an "illness," without providing any details. The family, he said, attended an autopsy and "is completely sure that he was not touched or subjected to torture."