Supporters of Sudan"s transitional government have turned out in Khartoum as rival protesters continue a sit-in to demand a military government. Sudan has been grappling with the biggest political crisis in its two-year-old transition. The military and civilian groups have been sharing power in a troubled alliance since long-standing President Omar al-Bashir was dethroned in 2019. But following a failed coup attempt in September, attributed to forces loyal to Bashir, military leaders have been demanding reforms to the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition and the replacement of the cabinet. The deep divisions between military and civilian leaders are threatening to derail the transition to democracy. Thursday"s rallies come after a rival group rallied in support of the military leaders. “Let"s mark with our protests a new wave of popular uprising that will pave the way for a fully civilian and democratic rule,” read a statement by the Sudanese Professionals" Association, which called for large rallies nationwide on Thursday. The group spearheaded the uprising that kicked off in December 2018 and culminated in al-Bashir’s ouster. Thousands of men and women marched in the capital Thursday waving the Sudanese flag and chanting: "We are free! We are revolutionaries! We will carry on with our journey!” Pro-military protesters want the civilian government dissolved. They accuse it of failing to revive the economy as bread shortages increase. A blockade at Port Sudan, in the east, by yet another group, has only exacerbated the situation. On Saturday, pro-military demonstrators chanted "down with the hunger government" and called for General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the armed forces and Sudan"s joint military-civilian Sovereign Council, to instigate a coup and seize control of the country. Some of them have remained outside the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum. But marching on Thursday in the city protesters could be seen with banners proclaiming "civilian is the people"s choice", the AFP news agency says. It adds that they chanted: "Give up power, al-Burhan." Control of the Sovereign Council is due to transfer to the civilians in the coming months as part of the transition to democracy. Western nations have expressed their support for the civilian government. US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, urged all sides to follow the agreed transition to democratic rule. Last week, Sudan"s civilian Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, unveiled a plan to tackle what he called the country"s "worst and most dangerous" political crisis in its two-year transition. "I am not neutral or a mediator in this conflict. My clear and firm position is complete alignment to the civilian democratic transition," he said. Hamdok was sworn in as prime minister in August 2019 after mass protests saw the military step in and end Bashir"s 30-year-rule in April of that year. But support for the transitional government has slumped in recent months as economic reforms spearheaded by Hamdok have seen fuel subsidies slashed and inflation soar. — Agencies