Sudan paramilitaries say took control of Khartoum airport, flights from Saudi Arabia turn back after nearly landing

Sudan paramilitaries say took control of Khartoum airport, flights from Saudi Arabia turn back after nearly landing

KHARTOUM: Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) said it had taken control of Khartoum airport on Saturday in response to army attacks on its bases. "The Rapid Support Forces defended themselves in response to the hostile forces inflicting heavy losses" on the regular army, the RSF statement said. It said its fighters "were able to take control of Merowe airport" north of Khartoum, "expelled attackers on bases in Soba" and "took control of Khartoum airport." Earlier, heavy gunfire and explosions have been heard around Sudanese capital Khartoum, witnesses said, following days of tension between the army and a powerful paramilitary group that has sparked warnings of a confrontation. Witnesses reported "confrontations" and loud explosions and gunfire near a base held by the paramilitary RSF in south Khartoum. The military used light and heavy weapons in the attack, it said. The army has not commented on the incident. Smoke was seen rising from Sudan's Khartoum airport, witnesses told Reuters. Sounds of gunfire were also heard in the vicinity of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, witnesses said. Commercial aircraft trying to land in the capital, Khartoum, began turning around to head back to their originating airport. Flights from Saudi Arabia turned