Khartoum, Dec 28 (IANS): Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council has asked the authorities concerned to investigate rape allegations against female protesters in Khartoum on December 19.

During a regular meeting for the Transitional Sovereign Council held at the Republican Palace in Khartoum and chaired by the Council's Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the council on Monday directed "the authorities concerned to investigate into what is being circulated in the media regarding the rape incident," according to a statement released by the council.

On December 21, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office called for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into allegations of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, during protests in Sudan on December 19, Xinhua news agency reported.

Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, said she received reports alleging that 13 women and girls were raped or gang raped; and that women were reportedly sexually harassed while fleeing the area around the presidential palace in Khartoum.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on October 25 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government.

On November 21, Al-Burhan and the then removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok signed a political declaration, which included reinstating the latter as Prime Minister, but the deal has so far failed to calm the streets.