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| Sudan violence: British diplomats evacuated from Khartoum | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| British diplomats and their families have been evacuated from Sudan in a "complex and rapid" operation, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed. | British diplomats and their families have been evacuated from Sudan in a "complex and rapid" operation, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed. |
| Mr Sunak said work was continuing to ensure the safety of British nationals who remain in Sudan. | Mr Sunak said work was continuing to ensure the safety of British nationals who remain in Sudan. |
| The evacuees were taken to an airfield outside of Khartoum to fly out of the country overnight, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC. | The evacuees were taken to an airfield outside of Khartoum to fly out of the country overnight, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC. |
| Fierce violence erupted last week in Khartoum between two opposing forces. | Fierce violence erupted last week in Khartoum between two opposing forces. |
| The power struggle between Sudan's regular army and a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has seen deadly shooting and shelling in the capital city. | The power struggle between Sudan's regular army and a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has seen deadly shooting and shelling in the capital city. |
| Foreign Secretary James Cleverly added that the government was working "around the clock to broker international support to end the bloodshed in Sudan." | |
| Mr Cleverly said there were "specific threats and violence directed towards diplomats" which led to the decision to evacuate staff. | |
| "We've taken the decision to temporarily relocate the embassy," he said, "that gives us the best opportunity to project our diplomatic support back into Sudan." | |
| Mr Cleverly added that the governments ability to evacuate other British nationals was "seriously limited" until fighting between warring parties stopped. | |
| The UK's move follows the evacuation of US diplomats in the early hours of Sunday morning, and the UK defence minister thanked both France and the US for their assistance. | |
| Several other countries including France, the Netherlands and Italy have also begun evacuating citizens. | |
| Speaking to the BBC, Mr Wallace said the evacuation of UK diplomatic staff was complex as the embassy was located between the two warring factions' headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. | Speaking to the BBC, Mr Wallace said the evacuation of UK diplomatic staff was complex as the embassy was located between the two warring factions' headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. |
| He added that young children were among those who were evacuated. | He added that young children were among those who were evacuated. |
| Related Topics | |
| Sudan | |