live from london ,this is bbc news. sudan, the british prime minister rishi sunak has confirmed that british diplomats and their families have been evacuated in a rapid and complex operation. also today here on bbc news... diane abbott has been suspended from the labour party pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism for the observer

newspaper. an alarm will go off on all smartphones in the uk later todayis all smartphones in the uk later today is a new emergency alert is tested. the dutch athletes have won the race for female and male categories in the london marathon. the other athlete was kenyan. so mo farah has finished in last position and it is his last marathon. we start with breaking news on the fighting in sudan — and britain's prime minister — rishi sunak has confirmed that british diplomats and theirfamilies have been evacuated from east african country — where fierce fighting is continuing.

he tweeted. .. "uk armed forces have completed a complex and rapid "evacuation of british diplomats and theirfamilies from sudan, "amid a significant escalation in violence and threats "to embassy staff." he has paid tribute to the diplomats and military personnel while says to continue pursuing every avenue to end the bloodshed in sudan. mr sunak has also urged parties to lay down their arms and implement an humanitarian ceasefire to ensure civilians safety. our correspondent caroline hawley can give us more detail — what more do we know?

lets speak to our correspondent merchuma — just brings up to date with what we know this evacuation.— know this evacuation. well, in the last hour, — know this evacuation. well, in the last hour, we've _ know this evacuation. well, in the last hour, we've heard _ know this evacuation. well, in the last hour, we've heard from - know this evacuation. well, in the last hour, we've heard from bothl know this evacuation. well, in the i last hour, we've heard from both the defence secretary ben wallace and also the foreign secretary james cleverly. the detail we have from ben wallace is that 1200 military personnel from the army, the navy and the raf were involved in what's said to have been a very complex and vapid operation conducted, they say, in cooperation with the us and other allies and you will know that the us have evacuated its diplomatic staff and others overnight. it appears that this evacuation has happened slightly afterwards. we don't know how many people are involved. we understand it to be tens not hundreds. it is diplomatic staff and

their dependents only so that is little comfort for the british nationals who remain trapped by the fighting and talking about a growing sense of panic about what they are going to do. it is interesting what james cleverly said. he said that the embassy in khartoum was being temporarily closed. the embassy staff are being relocated to other embassies in the region and then he said from there that would enable the uk and the foreign office too, in his words, project our diplomatic support back into sudan but from what i can see there is no evacuation plan for any british nationals other than the embassy staff and their dependents who have come out. they are being advised to stay put. they are being advised to register with the embassy. but when i tried to ask the foreign office how any british nationals are we talking about, they weren't able to give me a figure and they weren't able to give me a figure of how many

people even have registered with them so, for them, a growing sense of abandonment, really.— of abandonment, really. caroline, i know that in _ of abandonment, really. caroline, i know that in terms _ of abandonment, really. caroline, i know that in terms of _ of abandonment, really. caroline, i know that in terms of the _ of abandonment, really. caroline, i know that in terms of the details i know that in terms of the details and what you have received yourself, just going back to the evacuation, was this through the main airport? is that fully functioning? and the numbers as well of the diplomatic staff? what you have? hat numbers as well of the diplomatic staff? what you have?— numbers as well of the diplomatic staff? what you have? not the main khartoum international— staff? what you have? not the main khartoum internationalairport. - staff? what you have? not the main khartoum internationalairport. no, | khartoum international airport. no, thatis khartoum international airport. no, that is not fully functioning. i'm not sure the kind of security reasons how much detail i should go into into how the evacuation took place because obviously there is the hope that others will be evacuated and it's not only a rule that has been used by the british government —— not only a route that has been used by the british government. i won't go into too much detail on this at the moment but we haven't been given numbers on how many staff

and their dependents have been brought out to safety but we understand that it's in the tens. we are seeking further clarification on that. i are seeking further clarification on that. ~ ., ., , ., are seeking further clarification on that. ~ ., ., ., that. i know the ambassador hasn't been in the — that. i know the ambassador hasn't been in the country _ that. i know the ambassador hasn't been in the country for _ that. i know the ambassador hasn't been in the country for a _ that. i know the ambassador hasn't been in the country for a few- that. i know the ambassador hasn't been in the country for a few days i been in the country for a few days now but in terms of evacuations like this, and experience you've had a covering other stories, when a government says it was complex and it was rapid, obviously, because lot of this is done away from the public eye, away from news organisations like ours until it's completed. just how sensitive are are these operations? how sensitive are are these operations?— how sensitive are are these 0 erations? , . , , , operations? they are very sensitive. the are operations? they are very sensitive. they are very _ operations? they are very sensitive. they are very difficult. _ operations? they are very sensitive. they are very difficult. there - operations? they are very sensitive. they are very difficult. there are - they are very difficult. there are exceptionally difficult when there is ongoing fighting, when you're not sure how your diplomats are even going to get to, let's call it, and must point from where they are going to be airlifted out so they are extremely sensitive. they're

extremely sensitive. they're extremely difficult and my observation is that the foreign office and the uk government have been criticised many, many times before for not communicating properly with british nationals. in people's mind will be the evacuation from afghanistan, the chaotic evacuation again in very difficult circumstances. uk government through sources was at pains to point out that this is a very, very different situation, but it doesn't have the infrastructure, it doesn't have the personnel on the ground. obviously, it was 15,000, i believe, that were evacuated from afghanistan, but people who had worked for the british army and the british government left behind but in this case, all we have at the moment is, we think, tens of british staff and theirfamilies taken out we think, tens of british staff and their families taken out and a real, growing concern among the british nationals who are trapped by fighting about what they are going to do next and what help may be offered to them. they have been told

to stay put, to keep indoors, to register with the british embassy but to what end we don't know. as you mention, the uk ambassador in sudan and, i believe, is deputy are out of the country. what james cleverly has said is that because he's here in the uk, the ambassador, that will make it easier for him to come a kind of, coordinate any help but i think there was very little comfort that any british nationals in sudan for what's been said by ben wallace and james cleverly just in sudan for what's been said by ben wallace and james cleverlyjust in the last hour or so. my mac to stay there. that statement from james cleverly we can actually play for our viewers. we'll come back to you shortly, caroline, but the foreign secretaryjames shortly, caroline, but the foreign secretary james cleverly did make a statement on short time ago, as, i wasjust saying, and he statement on short time ago, as, i was just saying, and he explained that the embassy in the capital khartoum has been closed and its diplomats have been moved. this is what he said.

in response to escalating violence in khartoum and because of specific threats and violence directed towards diplomats in khartoum we have taken the decision to temporarily close the british embassy in khartoum to evacuate the british diplomats and their dependents and relocate our diplomatic functions into a nearby diplomatic functions into a nearby diplomatic post. we continue to work directly and through our international partners to call for a ceasefire and an end to this violence. the safety and protection of british nationals in sudan remains a priority for us, a top priority for us, and we will discharge that duty through our embassy is based in the area in close coordination with our international friends and partners. that was the foreign secretary james cleverly making that statement a short time ago.

just giving us a little more detail on the evacuation we don't know where they have been relocated but simply saying nearby diplomatic locations. lets speak to our correspondent merchuma — who is following developments from the kenyan capital nairobi. mercy, first off, in terms of where the diplomatic staff would have been evacuated to you, kenny, obviously, has a huge presence in the african continent. —— can yet. is that one of the countries that would have received them? —— like one. essentially yes but now there is no consensus on whether diplomats have been taken. most of them are touching down in addis ababa but the planes waiting to go in in djibouti so we have not had any official communications on where in the region the diplomats are being taken

but it will potentially be kenya, ethiopia and other countries around at the moment. i ethiopia and other countries around at the moment.— ethiopia and other countries around at the moment. i would if you could 'ust at the moment. i would if you could just please — at the moment. i would if you could just please lay _ at the moment. i would if you could just please lay out _ at the moment. i would if you could just please lay out the _ at the moment. i would if you could just please lay out the geopolitics i just please lay out the geopolitics of where we are with this conflict. geographically, how our neighbours to south sudan reacting and why does it matter that peace and calm is established quickly? it is it matter that peace and calm is established quickly?— established quickly? it is a big deal that some _ established quickly? it is a big deal that some form - established quickly? it is a big deal that some form of - established quickly? it is a big . deal that some form of normalcy, established quickly? it is a big - deal that some form of normalcy, of peace, resumes in sudan currently because first of all this is a country that has been relying on humanitarian assistance for the longest time possible. it's a country that has known no lasting peace and already there have been other countries around sudan hosting refugees from the area. already we are looking at south sudan, which is said and's closest neighbour, posting about more than 2000 people

since fighting broke out a week ago in sudan. of 80 countries around sudan are starting to receive all these people coming in from sudan. you have people calling the border all the way to chat to chat to help people going to south sudan, people trying to help people any way possible, even going all the way up to the border of egypt, so it is a big concern for the v chip that peace resumes because of the refugee crisis despite you have people crossing the way to chad. that is also because of the burden of having also because of the burden of having a country like sudan of having one of the biggest ports heavily reliant on... going into conflicts. it is interesting — on... going into conflicts. it is interesting you _ on... going into conflicts. it is interesting you say _ on... going into conflicts. it is interesting you say that - on... going into conflicts. it is interesting you say that and talk about the ports. we understand now this is a power struggle between two men. what is the prize at the end of the day. what has sudan got that they would benefit from? i wondered

if you could give us a bit of context and background? first of all, we context and background? first of all. we will _ context and background? first of all, we will look _ context and background? first of all, we will look at _ context and background? first of all, we will look at two _ context and background? first of all, we will look at two men - context and background? first of all, we will look at two men his l context and background? first of. all, we will look at two men his two or three years ago fought side by side when there was a coup in sudan in 2021 they were the men at the forefront fighting side by side and they now claim both to have the military government that is there now. sudan is with the countries in the region which has very rich gold fields looking at a very rich maritime biodiversity, a country that has, you know, very, very high potential of creating bases and it has attracted a lot of attention not even just regionally but globally with countries like russia, the us, or looking into it and even as late as last year december 2020 20 there were conversations about russia coming up with a naval base in one

of the ports in sudan —— december 2022. it is a country that has very good potential when it comes to people investing in it and also those who are concerned about his well—being. when it comes to the two generals, generaladd well—being. when it comes to the two generals, general add to the men and general henry t it is just a power struggle because that you cannot come the table —— general hemedti. people of sudan have thought it was now here and in december there was an argument on how this is going to happen butjust the small understanding on how the military transition will finally happen and who heads this military when the rss and eventuallyjoin the army then if at all who takes lead and what is bringing over years of protests sudan, all the small steps that have been taken into a bleakness right

now with people's hopes really dwindling and what the future is their country. just dwindling and what the future is their country-— their country. just very quickly, lib a. their country. just very quickly, libya- why _ their country. just very quickly, libya- why do _ their country. just very quickly, libya- why do i _ their country. just very quickly, libya. why do i keep _ their country. just very quickly, libya. why do i keep seeing - their country. just very quickly, i libya. why do i keep seeing libya coming up in this discussion about concern over third involvement, mercy? concern over third involvement, mer ? ., , concern over third involvement, mer ? . , ., , ., mercy? there have been a number of concerns a lot — mercy? there have been a number of concerns a lot countries _ mercy? there have been a number of concerns a lot countries coming - mercy? there have been a number of concerns a lot countries coming in - concerns a lot countries coming in as third parties in libya has really been mentioned a lot, especially from history because it has been associated with the loss of support, especially for the rsf leader in it and also hemedti has also decided to have a lot of hand in the fighting going on in libya. so the relationship between hemedti and libya has been some vile close and the rsf leader and there have been suggestions libya is somehow backing up suggestions libya is somehow backing up energy in this conflict. to

backing up hennig teeth despite backing up hennig teeth despite backing up hennig teeth despite backing up general hemedti in this conflict. general secretary ben wallace had previously said sudan was on the pasta peace and hope that can resume. ., , �* resume. -- path to peace. i've involvement _ resume. -- path to peace. i've involvement is _ resume. -- path to peace. i've involvement is obviously - resume. -- path to peace. we. involvement is obviously limited resume. -- path to peace. i've - involvement is obviously limited to trying to engage the safety of our british nationals but ultimately what we want is a piece to return. there was a visually peace programme where two factions obviously the sudan armed forces and other military faction working towards integration broke down and that is what is because the conflict and we both urge those parties very much to get back to the talks and back to peace. you know, sudan was on the path and i think we need to support that whenever we can and i know the un and the international community will be doing their best. that un and the international community will be doing their best.— will be doing their best. that was the defence _ will be doing their best. that was the defence secretary _ will be doing their best. that was the defence secretary ben - will be doing their best. that was i the defence secretary ben wallace. we have had that breaking news come

to us in the last few minutes. lets remind of you of that breaking news this hour on the fighting in sudan — and britain's prime minister — rishi sunak has confirmed that british diplomats and their families have been evacuated from east african country — where fierce fighting is continuing. we are entering the second week of fighting now. let's remind you of that tweet. he says, "uk armed forces have completed a complex and rapid "evacuation of british diplomats and theirfamilies from sudan, "amid a significant escalation in violence and threats "to embassy staff." he has paid tribute to the diplomats and military personnel while says to continue pursuing every avenue to end the bloodshed in sudan. mr sunak has also urged parties to lay down their arms and implement an humanitarian ceasefire to ensure civilians safety.

our correspondent caroline hawley can give us more detail — what more do we know? we just out with how we began the day. as of yesterday there were many questions about what would happen to british citizens but this news is only for diplomatic staff. that is ri . ht. we only for diplomatic staff. that is right. we began _ only for diplomatic staff. that is right. we began the _ only for diplomatic staff. that is right. we began the day - only for diplomatic staff. that is | right. we began the day learning that overnight us had evacuated its embassy staff in a rapid operation which we are told lasted less than an hour or only about an hour. then we waited for information from the british government, high hopes among british government, high hopes among british nationals that they might somehow be included in any evacuation plan but what we're hearing from british nationals there, some, of course we hadn't spoken to a huge number, but they

are feeling abandoned. they are feeling that other embassies are in touch with their nationals more than the british government is in touch with it. what seems to be the option for them and the escape plan, if you want, for then, is for the british diplomats who have now been evacuated to work with allies on trying to end the bloodshed or trying to end the bloodshed or trying to end this bitter power struggle. i think that is not going to be an awful lot of hope for the british nationals who are there and getting increasingly desperate. what the foreign office say is it's not getting the details on how many people it is evacuated. we just know it is diplomats and their families, their dependents. we think it is in their dependents. we think it is in the tens, not any more than that. we are told it is because of specific threats to diplomats. as for the british nationals, we don't know their number. we are trying to find out from the foreign office are not

given that number before. we have not even been told how many people been registered with the foreign office. but the foreign office is saying it is continuing to run and they ran the clock 24/7 crisis response to support british nationals in sudan. on the ground it appears british nationals are getting incredibly is rated —— increasingly frustrated and fighting despite what the covenant are saying. despite what the covenant are sa inc. , , ., ., saying. just going through the statistics of _ saying. just going through the statistics of what _ saying. just going through the statistics of what mr - saying. just going through the statistics of what mrjames i saying. just going through the i statistics of what mrjames cleverly said in his statement he said in a specific threats and violence directed towards diplomats. any detail you can add to that at all? no detail has been given. the detail i can add is what the british army have said 1200 personnel from the army, navy and raf were involved in the operation to get the diplomats and theirfamilies the operation to get the diplomats and their families out. it has been described as a rapid operation, a very complex and difficult operation

but at the moment they are not making public details of thatjust saying it is conducted in coordination with allies. thank you ve much coordination with allies. thank you very much indeed. _ mercy is in nairobi. one of the closer neighbours of sudan in kenya so in terms of evacuations and diplomatic movement is there anything you can tell us about past evacuations that have taken place on the continent and how quickly that can be turned around? i the continent and how quickly that can be turned around?— can be turned around? i honestly feel that evacuations _ can be turned around? i honestly feel that evacuations really i can be turned around? i honestly l feel that evacuations really depend on the first of all the gravity of the situation in which countries are doing that and most countries will most times, choose to keep it very private and not divulge a lot of information. what i would say right now is we in such circumstances

always see particular countries really wrapping up their efforts and going the forefront to out their nationals —— ramping up their effluents. —— efforts. mostly these are the likes of the eu, the us, japan, all these countries. we have always seen the laxity of a lack of preparedness especially when it comes to countries within the african region unfortunately and we are seeing it even now when citizens of countries like somalia and nigeria asking what about us, what are our country is doing? we're reaching out hearing issues around these. so, again, countries would carry out the evacuations differently but what certainly stands out is how specific countries especially, unfortunately, the global south and global north will carry out these evacuations. most of the time the people like those in

nigeria would be gotten to last and seem to be like a last resort for them so different circumstances will treat this differently.— treat this differently. murphy, mr cleverley also _ treat this differently. murphy, mr cleverley also went _ treat this differently. murphy, mr cleverley also went on _ treat this differently. murphy, mr cleverley also went on to - treat this differently. murphy, mr cleverley also went on to thank. treat this differently. murphy, mr. cleverley also went on to thank fans in the us for their assistance in evacuating british citizens. just how much presence to the united states and france have in the region? they, it appears, seemed somewhat more organised. yes. region? they, it appears, seemed somewhat more organised. yes, and the two countries _ somewhat more organised. yes, and the two countries have _ somewhat more organised. yes, and the two countries have a _ somewhat more organised. yes, and the two countries have a also - the two countries have a also present region. for example, if you look at the united nations —— a los of presence in the region. you would expect source of national from the us, japan or eu will be operating and most of these evacuation team we have seen when a country and people are taking also the allies, as they are taking also the allies, as they are called, so just the fact that a country like the eu are in first

means that there are embassies that are not only operating in sudan but also in other countries around seems to have... the way they are getting into sudan because already in the region. into sudan because already in the reuion. ~ , , into sudan because already in the reuion. ~ ,_ ., ., into sudan because already in the reuion. ~ ., ., ., ., ~ region. messijuma, for now, thank ou ve region. messijuma, for now, thank you very much _ region. messijuma, for now, thank you very much indeed. _ region. messijuma, for now, thank you very much indeed. -- - region. messijuma, for now, thank you very much indeed. -- mercy i region. messijuma, for now, thank. you very much indeed. -- mercy juma. you very much indeed. —— merchuma. i'm joined now by colonel richard kemp he was the commander of british forces in afghanistan in 2003 and also at the joint intelligence committee. thank you forjoining us. i would like to just take your reaction and analysis to the news that british diplomatic staff had been evacuated. this staff had been evacuated. is expected? i think very much as expected? i think very much as expected and following on feliz swiftly from us evacuation of their staff and other nations evacuating as well. i think the reality is that

those enmity —— embassy staff could do nothing in khartoum or anywhere else in sudan while this level of violence is going on so it was right that the british government would pull them out as quickly as they could. ., . _, .,, ., ., pull them out as quickly as they could. ., . ., ., could. how much cooperation as there? because _ could. how much cooperation as there? because there _ could. how much cooperation as there? because there were i could. how much cooperation as| there? because there were some questions as to whether the french evacuation convoy had been fired on by either the warring factions. they have both denied it of course. in terms of foreign countries evacuating their staff, is the level of cooperation between them and the foreign government?— foreign government? absolutely. there is cooperation _ foreign government? absolutely. there is cooperation between i there is cooperation between countries like the us, uk, france, other countries around the world who are essentially trying to get their nationals out and also as far as possible with the government of sudan which i know is in a very difficult position. it has got divided factions fighting each other

which is because the situation. and so the potential cooperation with them is pretty limited. they have limited control of what is going on in their country and we saw that as you mentioned from the french convoy and also reported attacks on the qatari convoy leaving the port sudan with some of their nationals as well so it is a very complex and fraught situation but cooperation takes place at national levels. obviously ou have place at national levels. obviously you have worked _ place at national levels. obviously you have worked for _ place at national levels. obviously you have worked for the _ place at national levels. obviously you have worked for the joint i you have worked for the joint intelligence committee. what sort of intelligence committee. what sort of intelligence would have alerted the government to say right, we are now out? i government to say right, we are now out? ~ , , ., out? i think it is can be a combination _ out? i think it is can be a combination of... - out? i think it is can be a combination of... cobra, j out? i think it is can be a i combination of... cobra, of out? i think it is can be a _ combination of... cobra, of course, has met a few times to coordinate the british evacuation, coordination between the ministry of defence, the foreign office and other relevant government departments and, critically, the national intelligence services. my role and i

was working for cobra was to coordinate the intelligence services and it is a combination of things, first of all being able to anticipate what was going to happen and it looks like we didn't actually have intelligence plant is about the situation was going to occur but onceit situation was going to occur but once it had occurred intelligence is based on on the ground information on what is happening in the country and actual events themselves that take place and i think rather than relying on source of specific sorts of intelligence to decide to evacuate british citizens it was based more on exactly what is happening in the country and event subs folding —— events that are unfolding as we watch them overlap we can obviously an appreciation that this is not going to end either quietly or very soon. in that this is not going to end either quietly or very soon.— quietly or very soon. in the situation — quietly or very soon. in the situation we _ quietly or very soon. in the situation we have - quietly or very soon. in the situation we have now i quietly or very soon. in the situation we have now in i quietly or very soon. in the i situation we have now in sudan, quietly or very soon. in the - situation we have now in sudan, in terms of the logistics and the fact is, in terms of the time and

evacuation takes place, where the evacuation takes place, where the evacuation is carried out from and where they go. i wondered if you could talk to me about some of the factors that are considered. we don't know where diplomatic staff have been evacuated to but we do know they have remained in imply they are still in the african continent in one of the safer neighbouring countries. what sort of factors to governments look at in terms of a safe evacuation? we haven't heard _ terms of a safe evacuation? - haven't heard exactly what route the british evacuation was heard but we know the americans evacuated their embassy staff from djibouti, nearby djibouti anything is likely we do the same thing when we talk to djibouti the extent and likelihood they will remain in a nearby country depends on how much stuff we can do from their —— how much good we can do from there, whether there is a benefit in keeping some of them in the region or moving them back to

london pending hopefully and eventual restoration of the diplomatic facilities in sudan itself. , w' , diplomatic facilities in sudan itself. , , ~ itself. very quickly, kernel, comparing _ itself. very quickly, kernel, comparing what _ itself. very quickly, kernel, comparing what you - itself. very quickly, kernel, comparing what you are i itself. very quickly, kernel, i comparing what you are seeing itself. very quickly, kernel, - comparing what you are seeing now obviously not being part of it to what took place in afghanistan. what is your analysis? i what took place in afghanistan. what is your analysis?— is your analysis? i think this is much more — is your analysis? i think this is much more straightforward i is your analysis? i think this is l much more straightforward than is your analysis? i think this is i much more straightforward than the afghan evacuation but of course it also only involves the diplomatic staff and doesn't involve an effort to get other british citizens, over 700 with understanding sudan at the moment and that evacuation from afghanistan was planned quite a long way ahead and still fairly chaotic. there was not time merely to plan this one more than a week ahead. i have no doubt that a week ago when this revolution began britain in another country started to put their

plans in place with the eventual outcome of successfully withdrawing them but that does still need bubbly hundreds of british people in a war—torn country with little prospect of the british government being able to get them out. in terms of caettin being able to get them out. in terms of getting the _ being able to get them out. in terms of getting the british _ being able to get them out. in terms of getting the british citizens - being able to get them out. in terms of getting the british citizens out, i of getting the british citizens out, because i have about 30 seconds, whether they going to get the information of the diplomatic staff have left the country? {iii information of the diplomatic staff have left the country?— have left the country? of course, that makes _ have left the country? of course, that makes a _ have left the country? of course, that makes a much _ have left the country? of course, that makes a much more - have left the country? of course, | that makes a much more difficult. there is no hands—on diplomatic presence in sudan any longer. but, of course, there is access to internet to an extent. i understand that the internet has failed quite significantly in sudan at the moment anyway so it will make it much more difficult but the internet is pretty much their only source of information in an extremely chaotic situation. they cannot rely on having any contact with government of sudan itself. the

having any contact with government of sudan itself.— of sudan itself. the panel richard kem - , of sudan itself. the panel richard kemp. thank _ of sudan itself. the panel richard kemp. thank you _ of sudan itself. the panel richard kemp, thank you so _ of sudan itself. the panel richard kemp, thank you so much - of sudan itself. the panel richard kemp, thank you so much for- of sudan itself. the panel richard | kemp, thank you so much for your insight on bbc