By AFP

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Sudan's parliament on Monday approved a nationwide state of emergency of six months instead of one year as ordered by President Omar al-Bashir to quell protests against his iron-fisted rule.

"A six-month state of emergency has been approved by a majority," the speaker of parliament Ibrahim Ahmed Omer said after lawmakers voted on the decree issued by Bashir, according to an AFP correspondent.

President Bashir declared a state of emergency from February 22 after an initial crackdown failed to suppress the protests that have rocked his administration for more than two months.

Deadly protests erupted on December 19 after a government decision to triple the price of bread.

People have died

The demonstrations quickly escalated into nationwide rallies against President Bashir's administration, with analysts calling it the biggest challenge to his rule stretching back three decades.

Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch has given a death toll of at least 51 including medics and children.

A parliamentary committee set up to look into the decree recommended that the state of emergency be shortened to six months instead of one year as originally ordered by President Bashir.

Parliament, overwhelmingly dominated by lawmakers from President Bashir's ruling National Congress Party (NCP), on Monday approved the recommendation after discussion.