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| Heavy gunfire amid military clash causes panic in capital of Sudan | Heavy gunfire amid military clash causes panic in capital of Sudan |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Paramilitary group reports seizing control of presidential palace, army chief’s home and Khartoum airport | |
| Heavy gunfire was heard in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, on Saturday as clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and its paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). | Heavy gunfire was heard in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, on Saturday as clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and its paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). |
| The RSF said it had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army chief and Khartoum international airport. | |
| The conflict follows days of tension between the army and the powerful RSF, which raised concerns about a confrontation. | |
| The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Saturday the situation in Sudan was “fragile” but insisted there was still an opportunity to complete the transition to a civilian-led government. | |
| Speaking from Hanoi, Blinken said the situation was “fragile” as some actors “may be pushing against that progress”. | |
| A Reuters witness said they saw armoured vehicles deployed in streets, and heard the sound of heavy weaponry in the vicinity of the headquarters of the army and the RSF. | A Reuters witness said they saw armoured vehicles deployed in streets, and heard the sound of heavy weaponry in the vicinity of the headquarters of the army and the RSF. |
| The source of the gunfire could not be immediately confirmed by Reuters. People could be seen running in panic through the capital. | The source of the gunfire could not be immediately confirmed by Reuters. People could be seen running in panic through the capital. |
| The rift between the forces came to the surface on Thursday, when the army said recent movements by the RSF had been made without coordination and were illegal. | The rift between the forces came to the surface on Thursday, when the army said recent movements by the RSF had been made without coordination and were illegal. |
| A statement by the RSF on Saturday called the army’s actions a “brute assault” and called for it to be condemned. It said the RSF had been in contact with local and international mediators to inform them. | A statement by the RSF on Saturday called the army’s actions a “brute assault” and called for it to be condemned. It said the RSF had been in contact with local and international mediators to inform them. |
| A confrontation between the two forces could bring prolonged strife across a vast country already dealing with economic breakdown and flare-ups of tribal violence. | A confrontation between the two forces could bring prolonged strife across a vast country already dealing with economic breakdown and flare-ups of tribal violence. |