The Sudanese government said on Wednesday that 77 people have been killed since riots erupted in the capital Khartoum on Monday, triggered by the death of First Vice President and former southern rebel leader John Garang in an air crash.

Governor of Khartoum state Abdul-Halim Ismail al-Muta'afi told a press conference that more than 140 people were wounded in the violence, 10 of them in serious condition.

Muta'afi ensured the citizens that the situation was secure and stable, urging them to remain calm.

Earlier on Wednesday, Khartoum's Security Commission said in a statement that the situation has been under full control.

Garang was confirmed dead on Monday as the helicopter he was travelling in crashed on his way back from Uganda to southern Sudan on Saturday night.

Source: Xinhua