Saudi, UAE, US diplomats urge end to Sudan military escalation

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States held a phone call on Saturday to discuss the ongoing situation in Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The ministers called for a halt to military escalation and a return to a framework agreement between civilian political forces and the military in Sudan, the agency added.

A total of 56 civilians were killed and 595 others were wounded in clashes across Sudan, the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said early on Sunday, a day after fighting broke out between the military and the Rapid Support Forces group.

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) said one of its Airbus aircrafts "had an accident" at Sudan's Khartoum airport before its scheduled departure to Riyadh on Saturday.

Saudia also said in a statement that its flights to and from Sudan had been suspended until further notice. It added that it had moved its passengers, crew and staff from the airport to the Saudi embassy in the capital Khartoum

Clashes between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted on Saturday. Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir also said it was suspending flights to and from Khartoum for 72 hours.