US mulling steps after Sudan ceasefire violations

OSLO - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that both sides in the conflict in Sudan had violated their commitments to a ceasefire and warned that Washington was looking at what steps it could take to make its views clear.

"We're also looking at steps that we can take to make clear our views on any leaders who are moving Sudan in the wrong direction, including by perpetuating the violence and by violating ceasefires that they've actually committed to," Blinken said in a news conference in Oslo, describing the situation in Sudan as "incredibly fragile."

Saudi Arabia and the United States have been monitoring a ceasefire deal meant to run until Saturday evening that had raised hopes of an end to a war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The truce brought some reduction in fighting and gave space for limited humanitarian relief, but has been marred by clashes and air strikes that have continued largely uninterrupted since the outbreak of the conflict on April 15.

In El Obeid, a regional hub to the southwest of Khartoum that has seen clashes, the World Food Programme said food and assets were being looted.

"Food for 4.4 million people is at stake," said agency chief Cindy McCain.

On Wednesday, the army announced it was pulling out of talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah where the ceasefire deal was struck and where mediators had been trying to bolster and prolong the truce.