Blinken warns Sudan's rivals after U.S. diplomatic convoy comes under fire
The Hindu
Antony Blinken said the diplomatic convoy that came under fire on Monday was flying U.S. flags and all in the convoy were safe
A U.S. diplomatic convoy came under fire in Sudan in an apparent attack by fighters linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on April 18, calling the incident "reckless" and "irresponsible".
Fighting between Sudan's Army and the paramilitary RSF that erupted on Saturday has killed at least 185 people and injured more than 1,800, U.N. envoy Volker Perthes said.
The power struggle has derailed a shift to civilian rule and raised fears of a wider conflict.
Mr. Blinken, speaking in Japan, said the diplomatic convoy that came under fire on Monday was flying U.S. flags and all in the convoy were safe.
The shooting prompted a direct warning from Mr. Blinken, who separately telephoned RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and Sudan's Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to tell them that any danger posed to American diplomats was unacceptable.
"We have deep concerns about the overall security environment," Mr. Blinken told a news conference at a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers in Japan.
Blinken urged both leaders to agree to a ceasefire and said they had a responsibility to "ensure the safety and wellbeing of civilians, diplomatic personnel, and humanitarian workers", the State Department said.