Nine opposition leaders and activists have been arrested by Sudan Authorities, ahead of fresh anti-government protests expected after weekly Muslim prayers on Friday, a committee of civil society groups said in a statement.

The head of the National Intelligence and Security Service’s media office denied knowledge of the arrests.

Sudan has been rocked by more than a week of anti-government protests sparked by rising prices, shortages of basic commodities and a cash crisis.

At least 19 people have died during the protests, including two military personnel, according to official figures.

The statement by a committee of professional organizations involved in the protests said authorities had raided a meeting of opposition leaders in Khartoum.

They detained a total of nine people, including Siddiq Youssef, a senior leader of Sudan’s Communist Party, as well as leaders from the pan-Arab Ba’ath and Nasserist parties, the statement said.