Deadly conflict in Sudan sparks global concerns

The deadly conflict in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary group stretched into a second day on Sunday, raising international concerns about escalation.

At least 56 civilians have been killed and 595 people wounded in the fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, which started on Saturday, according to a doctors' organization.

Heavy artillery firing was heard in Omdurman, which adjoins the capital Khartoum, and nearby Bahri in the early hours of Sunday. Witnesses also reported gunfire in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

The RSF said it had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army chief and Khartoum international airport.

The African Union Commission's chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat released a statement on Saturday calling on RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's forces and the Sudanese Army to end the clashes and reach a cease-fire agreement. He further urged the political and military parties to find a fair political solution to the crisis.

"We appeal to all parties involved in the violence and the Rapid Support Forces in particular, to immediately stop the destruction of the country, the terrorization of its population, and the bloodshed during the last 10 days of Ramadan," Mahamat said in the statement. The African Union's Peace and Security Council has called an emergency session on Sunday to discuss political and security developments in Sudan, it said on Twitter.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, formed in 2013 predominantly with fighters from the Janjaweed militia that brutally fought off rebels in Darfur, have been at the center of Sudan's long-standing dispute.

UN slams violence

Following the reports of armed fighting in Khartoum, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday issued a statement strongly condemning the violence.

Guterres said he was engaging with leaders in the region and reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to support the people of Sudan in their efforts to restore a democratic transition and realize their aspirations for building a peaceful and secure future.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged both sides in Sudan's armed conflict to cease fire as soon as possible and to avoid further escalation.

The spokesperson called on the two parties to the conflict to end fighting as soon as possible and prevent the escalation of tensions, hoping the parties in Sudan will increase dialogue and jointly move forward the political transition process.

Countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, also expressed concerns over the conflict, and called for an immediate cease-fire and resolution of differences through dialogue.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.