Sudan shut down the Khartoum offices of pan-Arab satellite channels Al-Arabiya and Sky News Arabia on Friday, the fifth day of mass protests against fuel price hikes, the networks said.

Al-Arabiya said on its website that the closure -- the first such move against a foreign media outlet since the protests began -- came hours after its Khartoum correspondent was summoned for a meeting.

Sudanese poured into the streets after Friday prayers in a fifth day of demonstrations against fuel price hikes that have seen dozens shot dead and calls for the government's overthrow.

The price hikes have sparked the largest protests of Omar al-Bashir's 24-year rule, as young activists have invoked chants from the Arab Spring to call for the president's downfall and security forces have been accused of gunning down more than 50 people.

Rights groups slammed Sudan Friday for killing protesters demonstrating against fuel subsidy cuts, saying 50 people were shot dead in two days in the country's worst riots since 1989.

Activists called for the protests to continue and urged the security forces to side with the people.

New protests broke out in Sudan on Thursday as medical officials said 29 people were killed in three days of rioting sparked by a government decision to scrap fuel subsidies.

As the protests escalated, the largest since President Omar al-Bashir seized power in 1989, the leader wanted for war crimes and genocide cancelled a planned trip to the U.N. General Assembly.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes and genocide, on Wednesday cancelled a planned trip to the U.N. General Assembly, the U.N. said.

Bashir's application for a visa had embarrased the U.S. government and U.N. leadership. The U.N. gave no reason for the no-show however.

Seven demonstrators were killed in Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman Wednesday as protests over the Sudanese government's scrapping of fuel subsidies raged for a third day, witnesses and relatives said.

The protests, which have now cost the lives of 10 people, have escalated into the worst in Sudan since President Omar al-Bashir seized power in 1989.

The U.S. embassy in Khartoum called Wednesday for all sides in Sudan to avoid further violence as deadly protests sparked by fuel price hikes intensified.

"We call on all sides not to resort to force and to respect civil liberties and the right to peaceful assembly," said a U.S. embassy statement issued in Arabic.

Demonstrators protesting against fuel price hikes torched the headquarters of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party in Khartoum's twin city Omdurman on Tuesday, witnesses said.

One witness told Agence France Presse protesters looted the building before setting it ablaze.

Unknown gunmen shot dead a demonstrator during protests in central Sudan against a steep hike in oil prices, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Wad Madani in Al-Jazeera state on Monday after the government announced price hikes following the lifting of oil subsidies, witnesses said.

A Sudanese woman who refuses to cover her hair under the country's morality law appeared in court on Thursday and her case was adjourned until November 4, her lawyer said.

Amira Osman Hamed, 35, has said she is prepared to be flogged to defend the right to leave her hair uncovered in defiance of what she has called a "Taliban"-like law.