UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for "calm and utmost restraint by all" in Sudan, where longtime leader Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the military, a UN spokesman said Thursday.

Guterres said that the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people will be realized through an appropriate and inclusive transition process, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

He reaffirmed that the United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese people as they chart a new way forward, Dujarric said.

Asked if the United Nations has established contact with the new authority in Khartoum, Dujarric said: "I have not got an update from our country office... but I am sure the contact will be established as soon as possible."

Earlier Thursday, Sudan's Defense Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said in a statement that the Sudanese army has ousted President Omar al-Bashir and his government.

He further said that a transitional military council would be formed to rule the country during a transitional period of two years.

The Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Saturday and Sunday saw huge protests that ended with open sit-in before the Sudanese army general headquarters.

Since Dec. 19 last year, Sudan had witnessed popular protests over the deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities.