At least nine Sudanese protesters were killed and several others injured on Monday when the country’s military opened fire to break up a sit-in in Khartoum, the country’s capital.

The interim military council had said it would lead the country through a transition period of up to two years but protesters vowed to remain in the streets until a return to civilian government was guaranteed.

The protesters had reportedly gathered outside the Defense Ministry in Khartoum to oppose the interim military council which has ruled the country since a coup ousted the country’s long-time president, Omar al-Bashir in April.

According to a Facebook post by an opposition union, the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD), the casualties were hit by live bullets and security forces have surrounded the hospitals where the wounded and the dead were taken.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), an umbrella organization of trade unions in the country also said in a tweet that security forces had used live bullets and ‘excessive force’ on the protesters.

Small fires and billowing clouds of black smoke could be seen in videos taken in the capital on Monday while other video clips showed people fleeing as guns went off.

A 25-year-old dentist from Khartoum, Deema Alasad who took part in the sit-in said the government’s paramilitary force as well as members of the intelligence and security services arrived  the area on Monday morning.

“They hit us and then they started shooting live ammunition, after putting the entire sit-in under siege. It is our right to protest and our right to express that we don’t accept what is going on,” Alasad said.