Joe Biden says US has retrieved personnel from Khartoum as fighting continues between rival armed groups

The US military has evacuated embassy staff and families from Khartoum, according to Joe Biden, as other countries are also scrambling to get their nationals out of Sudan amid continued fighting.

France’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that a “rapid evacuation operation” had begun, and that European citizens and those from “allied partner countries” would also be assisted, without giving further details.

More shelling and gunfights in Khartoum amid fears opportunity to avoid full civil war may be lost

Sudan faces a weekend of intensified violence after last-minute efforts to impose a ceasefire before the end of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and bring a close to almost a week of fighting in Khartoum failed.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have now spent almost a week trapped in their homes in the capital, under constant bombardment with dwindling supplies of food and limited power.

Witnesses report shooting in north, west and centre of city, including during call for Eid prayers.

New efforts to halt fighting in Sudan failed on Friday, as residents of the capital, Khartoum, reported intense shelling and gunfights between soldiers and gunmen from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Witnesses said there was shooting in the north, west and centre of the city, including during the call for special early-morning Eid prayers.

The most sought-after addresses in Sudan’s capital city are now so dangerous that residents cannot wait to flee

On one street is a small cafe where diplomats, successful businesspeople and visiting dignitaries enjoyed smoothies and burgers under umbrellas set against the blistering sun. On another is a showroom for custom-designed kitchens imported from Europe, a once well stocked pharmacy and a fast-food joint. Down dusty potholed roads, there are villas behind high walls and apartment blocks where chandeliers hang above shining marble stairways.

These central Khartoum neighbourhoods, once the most sought-after addresses in Sudan’s capital city, are now so dangerous that residents cannot wait to flee. For almost a week, they have been the stage for a brutal power struggle, shattered by shelling, grenades and automatic rifle fire that trapped tens of thousands in their homes.

Germany and Japan reportedly planning to evacuate citizens as UN documents describe ‘nightmare scenario’

Thousands of residents have fled Khartoum as fighting continued across the city for a fifth day and many countries began preparations to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.

Attempts to resurrect a US-brokered ceasefire between the army and paramilitary forces that failed to hold on Tuesday did not reassure many inhabitants of the capital, which suffered some of the most intense clashes yet seen as rival factions battled for control of the airport, defence headquarters and other key strategic sites.