Little let-up in Khartoum fighting despite Sudan truce declaration

Sporadic shelling rang out late on Friday in Sudan's capital even though warring factions announced a truce, while one force said it was willing to allow airports to reopen for the evacuation of foreign nationals.

The United Nations, US, UK, Japan, Switzerland, South Korea, Sweden and Spain have said they were making preparations or attempting to remove their personnel after almost a week of violence.

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Forces commanded by two previously allied leaders of Sudan's ruling council began a violent power struggle last weekend. Hundreds have died, and a nation reliant on food aid has been tipped into what the United Nations calls a humanitarian catastrophe.

Artillery fire continued in Khartoum late on Friday, a Reuters witness said, though less intense than earlier in the day. The fighting dealt the latest blow to international attempts to end the fighting.

Smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on Friday. AP

The army and its adversary, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), said separately they agreed to a three-day truce to enable people to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Fitr.

"The armed forces hope that the rebels will abide by all the requirements of the truce and stop any military moves that would obstruct it," an army statement said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the combatants to honour the truce, and said Sudan's military and civilian leadership must urgently start negotiations on a sustainable ceasefire to prevent further damage to the country.

RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, said early on Saturday that he had received a phone call from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The two "emphasised the necessity of adhering to a complete ceasefire and providing protection for humanitarian and medical workers, especially UN staff as well as regional and international organisations," Hemedti said in a post on his official Facebook account.

People flee street battles between the forces of two rival Sudanese generals in Khartoum on Friday. AFP

The RSF said late on Friday it was ready to partially open all of Sudan's airports so foreign governments could evacuate their nationals.

The group said in a statement it would "cooperate, coordinate and provide all facilities that enable expatriates and missions to leave the country safely."

It was unclear to what extent the RSF controls Sudan's airports. The Khartoum airport has been caught in the fighting with aircraft burning on the tarmac, and commercial airlines halted flights several days ago.

Sudanese community members embrace and comfort each other as they gather for Eid Al Fitr, on Friday. AP

Soldiers and gunmen from the RSF shot at each other all day in neighbourhoods across the city, including during the call for special early morning Eid prayers, with gunfire punctuated by the thud of artillery and air strikes.

Drone footage showed smoke across Khartoum and its Nile sister cities, together one of Africa's biggest urban areas.

The World Health Organization on Friday reported 413 people had been killed and 3,551 injured since fighting broke out six days ago. The death toll includes at least five aid workers.

Reuters