Sudan Army accuses rival paramilitary force of shooting at Turkish plane

ANKARA

The Sudan Army on Friday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of opening fire on a Turkish plane in the north of the capital Khartoum before landing to evacuate Turkish nationals stranded in the country amid clashes between the state militaries.

The army said in a statement that a Turkish C-130 military plane was hit by RSF fire while preparing to land at Wadi Seidna airport, causing fuel system damage and injuring one of its crew members.

The plane, however, safely landed at the airport, and maintenance work was carried out, it added.

The Sudan Army warned RSF fighters not to attempt to obstruct evacuation efforts by other countries with such "dangerous behaviors."

Early on Friday, the Turkish National Defense Ministry confirmed that its C-130 military plane came under fire as it was on an evacuation mission for Turkish citizens stuck in Sudan amid unrest.

At least 460 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured in clashes between the army and its rival RSF paramilitary since the conflict began, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.

A 72-hour cease-fire went into effect at Tuesday midnight (2200GMT Monday) and was extended for another three days to enable foreigners to leave Khartoum and its surrounding areas and allow peace efforts to stop the heavy-weapons fight between the state militaries that erupted on April 15.