Race to the border as countries rush to evacuate foreign citizens from Sudan
- Fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary force has continued despite the announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire extension on Friday
- The conflict has triggered a rush to extract diplomats and citizens by air or road via Port Sudan on the Red Sea, about 800km from Khartoum
The sounds of air strikes, anti-aircraft weaponry and artillery could be heard in Khartoum early on Saturday and dark smoke rose over parts of the city, as fighting in Sudan entered a third week.
Fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary force continued despite the announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire extension on Friday, when strikes by air, tanks and artillery rocked Khartoum and the adjacent cities of Bahri and Ombdurman.
Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands have fled for their lives in a power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that erupted into violence on April 15, derailing an internationally-backed transition toward democratic elections.
At least 512 people have been killed and close to 4,200 wounded, according to the United Nations, which believes the real toll is much higher.
More than 75,000 people were internally displaced within Sudan just in the first week of the fighting, according to the United Nations. Only 16 per cent of hospitals were operating as normal in the capital.
The conflict has triggered a rush to extract foreign diplomats and citizens.