President Omar al-Bashir has appointed a new first vice President and Prime minister, a day after declaring a year-long state of emergency to counter Sudanese protests calling for his removal from office.

Bashir replaced his long-time ally Bakri Hassan Saleh with Defence Minister General Awad Ibnoufas as vice-President and appointed governor of eastern Gezira state Mohamed Tahir Ayala  as Prime minister.

Awad Ibnoufas was active in the coup which brought Bashir to power three decades ago, while Ayala has previously been regarded  by the Sudanese leader as his potential successor as president.