KHARTOUM: The Sudanese army’s delegation to talks in the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah aimed at restoring peace to Sudan has returned home “for consultations” and will continue “after obstacles are overcome,” an army statement said on Thursday.
Differences on issues “including the rebels evacuating civilian homes in the capital and public facilities, hospitals and roads” led to a lack of agreement on an end to hostilities, the army said.
The fighting broke out in April as the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) vied for power. Since then, more than 3 million people have been uprooted, including more than 700,000 who have fled to neighboring countries.
Some 1,136 people have been killed, according to the health ministry, though officials believe the number is higher.
While the two warring sides have shown openness toward mediation efforts led by regional and international actors, none has resulted in a sustained cease-fire.
The two sides resumed talks, facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States, in Jeddah this month.
Sudan army mediation team returns home from Jeddah ‘for consultations’
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Sudan army mediation team returns home from Jeddah ‘for consultations’
- Differences on issues led to lack of agreement on end to hostilities
Syrian government foils Daesh plot to attack churches and New Year celebrations
- Bomber kills soldier in Aleppo, detonates explosives injuring 2 others
ALEPPO, DAMASCUS: The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that it had thwarted a Daesh plot to carry out suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations and churches, particularly in Aleppo.
The ministry said in a statement that, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts and careful monitoring of Daesh cells in cooperation with partner agencies, it had received intelligence indicating plans for suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations in several provinces, particularly Aleppo, with a focus on churches and civilian gathering areas.
The ministry added that it took preemptive measures, including reinforcing security around churches, deploying mobile and fixed patrols, and setting up checkpoints across the city.
During operations at a checkpoint in Aleppo’s Bab Al-Faraj district, security forces intercepted a suspected Daesh member who opened fire. One internal security soldier was killed, and the attacker detonated explosives, injuring two others.
Daesh recently increased its attacks in Syria, and was blamed for an attack last month in Palmyra that killed three Americans.
On Dec. 13, two US soldiers and an American civilian were killed in an attack Washington blamed on a lone Daesh gunman in Palmyra.
In retaliation, American forces struck scores of Daesh targets in Syria.
Syrian authorities have also carried out several operations against Daesh since then, saying on Dec. 25 they had killed a senior leader of the group.
