Fighting continued across the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Sunday, hours after an agreement was announced in the Saudi city of Jeddah between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces on a week-long ceasefire, starting Monday evening.
Al Jazeera correspondent reported that the Sudanese air force bombed targets east of Khartoum of the Rapid Support Forces, which responded with anti-aircraft missiles.
AFP quoted witnesses as saying that increasingly violent air strikes had "rocked the walls of houses" in the capital, and renewed clashes in the press area in southern Khartoum.
Reuters quoted residents in Khartoum as saying sporadic fighting between the two sides of Sudan's conflict could be heard in the capital on Sunday.
Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces confirmed their full commitment to the ceasefire signed in Jeddah (Reuters)
Jeddah Agreement
On Saturday, the United States and Saudi Arabia said in a joint statement that the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces signed late on Saturday a 7-day ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire will come into effect 48 hours after signing (Monday at 9:45 p.m. local time) and could be extended with the consent of both parties, the statement said.
The statement added that the two sides agreed to deliver and distribute humanitarian aid, restore basic services, and withdraw troops from hospitals and basic public facilities. They also agreed to facilitate the safe passage of humanitarian aid providers, allowing the unimpeded flow of aid from ports of entry to populations in need.
U.S. Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey called on the military and support forces to respect the ceasefire agreement they signed in Jeddah yesterday.
Pledge of commitment
Sudan's military today confirmed commitment to the agreement, saying it would be limited to arrangements for a truce to protect civilians and hospitals, and the RSF confirmed its full commitment to the ceasefire.
The Forces for Freedom and Change (a coalition of political parties supporting civilian rule) called in a statement for full commitment to the Jeddah Declaration of Principles, the short-term ceasefire agreement and humanitarian arrangements, and hoped that this agreement would constitute another step forward on the road to a total cessation of this "damn war."
Sudanese military spokesman Nabil Abdullah said the agreement in Jeddah would be limited to special arrangements to protect civilians and hospitals, and would not address political issues.
He added, in a statement, that the Sudanese Armed Forces are committed to the text of the agreement, which will enter into force on Monday evening.
Sudan has been at war since April 15 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which reject a plan to integrate them into its ranks.
Since the fighting began, nearly a thousand people have been killed, mostly civilians, and pushed more than a million Sudanese to flee or seek refuge in neighbouring countries.