Fierce Fighting Erupts in Khartoum

Barely three hours after the first batch of Nigerian evacuees touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, fierce battle erupted in central Khartoum on Thursday.

The fighting follows attempts by the army to push back the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF, from areas around the presidential palace and army headquarters. 

Reuters reports say Omdurman and Bahri have also been the centres of heavy against the terms of the seven-day ceasefire agreement reached by the two fighting sides. 

Both sides are battling for soul of Khartoum and environs ahead of any possible negotiations even as the warring leaders gave no indication or willingness to hold talks after more than 500 people have been killed in the two-week long fighting.

"Since yesterday evening, and this morning, there are air strikes and the sounds of clashes," Reuters quotes Al-Sadiq Ahmed, a 49-year-old engineer, as saying from Khartoum.

"We've got into a state of permanent terror because the battles are around the centres of residential neighbourhoods. We don't know when this nightmare and the fear will end," he added.