Sudan's Sovereign Council is to establish an anti-terrorism force to counter "potential threats", it said in a statement on Monday.

Huge crowds have regularly taken to the streets demanding a return to civilian rule since a military coup on Oct. 25 ended a power-sharing arrangement that began after Islamist autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled by a popular uprising in 2019.

Also on Monday, thousands of protesters against military rule in Sudan marched towards the presidential palace in Khartoum, drawing volleys of tear gas from security forces, a Reuters witness said.

The protesters, who gathered some 2 km (1.25 mile) from the palace, blocked a main road in the Al Diyum neighborhood and burned tires before starting their march.

Military leaders said their coup saved Sudan from chaos and that they will protect people's right to peaceful protest. They reinstated Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in an attempt to safeguard reforms, but he resigned earlier this month.