CAIRO (AP) — Sudanese activists say thousands have taken to the streets in several towns to protest economic hardship, especially higher bread prices, with a mob in the northern city of Atbara torching the ruling party's offices.

Photos and video clips posted by activists on social media purport to show police and army troops standing by as the protests unfolded on Wednesday, choosing not to interfere.

A video clip obtained by The Associated Press late Wednesday showed the headquarters of President Omar Bashir's National Congress Party in Atbara engulfed in flames. Vehicles parked outside were also torched.

Protests also broke out in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Barbar in the north and Nohoud in the western Kordofan region. There were no reports of clashes with security forces.