Khartoum , Sudan ( CNN ) -- Sudanese authorities disrupted a plot `` to create chaos , target leaders of the country and destabilize the county , '' in what appeared to be an attempted coup d'etat , Sudan 's minister of information told reporters Thursday . `` The act was planned for last Thursday , then was postponed to this Thursday , '' Ahmad Bilal Osman said . The government 's goal was `` to have it aborted before it began , and that happened . '' Read more : Sudan and South Sudan sign partial agreement . Earlier in the day , the semi-official Sudanese Media Service had reported that , `` according to a source in the National Security ( agency ) , a plan of sabotage was aborted at dawn this morning that aimed to create security chaos which was led by persons from the opposition . '' Thirteen people were arrested , according to Osman , most notably Salah Ghosh , former head of Sudan 's National Intelligence and Security Services . Read more : Sudan to reopen borders with South Sudan . Sudanese Media Service said the source added that there was a `` plan of sabotage which sought to shake the stability and security of the country , '' and that after the arrests , `` the specialized authorities '' immediately began investigations of `` civil and military persons connected to the plan . '' The apparent coup attempt comes at a time when Sudan is facing serious challenges with conflicts in the country 's peripheral provinces of Blue Nile , South Kordofan and Darfur . Read more : Sudan president vows to 'punish ' South Sudan . Sudan 's oil-dependent economy took a blow in 2011 when South Sudan seceded , taking with it the majority of the oil wealth . Economic austerity measures last summer sparked Arab Spring-like protests against the government , and increased calls for reform within the National Congress Party , led by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir , who has ruled since 1989 . Read more : Supermodel Alek Wek 's emotional homecoming . Witnesses said they saw tanks and military vehicles move around in the capital in the very early morning hours Thursday . `` I saw tanks around one of the bridges , '' one witness said . Osman said `` things are now stable '' and `` there is no extension of this act into the army or security '' services . `` Some in the opposition dreamt that this chaos would create an opportunity to topple the regime , '' he said . `` They are dreaming . ''
` ` A plan of sabotage '' intended to destroy Sudan , the minister of defense says . Thirteen people were killed , he says , including a former army chief . Current members of the army and security agency were not involved in the plot , he says .