live from london. this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. the uk prime minister confirms that british diplomats and theirfamilies have been evacuated from sudan in what he calls a "rapid" and "complex" operation. a french official says that around 100 people of multiple nationalities have been evacuated on a french flight from sudan — after a �*complicated' rescue operation. beeping. and this was the alarm that rang in almost every uk phone one hour ago, part of the new emergency alert system being tested by the uk goverment. in the uk, labour opposition mp diane abbott has been suspended pending an investigation

into a letter she wrote about racism for the observer newspaper. and back to london... the dutch siffan hassan and the kenyan kelvin kiptum have won the race for female and male categories in the london marathon. hello. i'm lukwesa burak. british diplomats and their families have been airlifted to safety from the sudanese capital, khartom, as fighting between rival factions of the army enters a second week. the ministry of defence has confirmed embassy staff were removed under the cover of darkness. the united states has carried out a similar operation. there's no word yet, on how other british nationals are supposed to leave. with the latest here's our africa

correspondent, andrew harding. in war—torn khartoum this morning, dramatic moves to rescue at least some trapped foreigners. overnight, american military helicopters flew into sudan, heading for the capital in the centre of the country. in a short but successful operation, nearly 100 us embassy staff and their families were airlifted to safety. there are reports of a convoy also leaving by road from the french embassy, and within the last hour, confirmation that british embassy staff have been extracted from the city. the prime minister announcing the news in this tweet, saying... the diplomats that were working in the british embassy in khartoum have been unable to discharge their functions because of the violence in that city. so both to fulfill our duty

to protect them as their employer, we are relocating them to other embassies in the region. footage here of an earlier convoy taking people out of khartoum and heading towards a port on the red sea coast. but while many foreign governments are prioritizing the evacuation of diplomats, other foreign nationals in sudan say they feel abandoned. the situation with us, around us, we were considering at one point to bejoining a un convoy to the borde earlier today. we were kind of advised by the british government to, you know, as per their travel advice, to not do that. so we didn't. we recently found out that actually all british embassy remaining staff have been on that convoy. we are kind of uniquely without guidance and support as british citizens. amid all this, still

no hint of a ceasefire. instead, growing fears that sudan's deadly power struggle may be set to intensify. andrew harding, bbc news, johannesburg. the british defence secretary, ben wallace, says sudan was on the path to peace and hopes that can resume. 0ur involvement is obviously limited to trying to engage for the safety of our british nationals but, ultimately, what we want is for peace to return. there was originally a peace programme where two factions, the, obviously, the sudan armed forces and another military faction were working towards integration. that broke down and that's what's caused the conflict and we both urge those parties very much to get back to the talks and back to peace. and, you know, sudan, it was on the right path, and i think we need to continue to support that whatever way we can and i know that the un and the international community will be doing their best. 0ur correspondent caroline hawley can give us more detail. 0n the evacuation, what we know from

british government officials is that 1200 military personnel from the army, the navy and the raf were involved in evacuating diplomats and theirfamilies. we don't involved in evacuating diplomats and their families. we don't have an exact numbers. number. we think in the tens. as you heard and andrew's report there, the reason that is being given is that diplomats have had specific threats against them but british government officials are still saying that the safety and protection of british nationals is a top priority. what's less clear is what's going to be done for them because you heard in andrew's report he was speaking to one british national. the bbc is hearing from others who are saying they are getting increasingly frustrated and fearful about what's going to happen to them but what james cleverly the foreign secretary has said was that

diplomats in sudan were unable to fulfil their functions, their duties in khartoum so they have now been withdrawn. the uk ambassador in khartoum was already in the uk and there is now, the government says, a crisis response centre that is operating 2a hours a day but what we don't know is what are the options for the british nationals other than the advice they are being giving at the advice they are being giving at the moment to stay put, to stay on boards and to register with the embassy. —— to stay indoors. when i spoke to the foreign office yesterday they were not able to give me numbers of how many people already registered for them. there is little comfort for them in their evacuation of diplomats because they don't know what they're going to do now and there are no british consular staff now left in khartoum. that is caroline hawley.

colonel richard kemp was the commander of british forces in afghanistan in 2003 — and worked for the �*joint intelligence committee'. he's not at all surprised by the uk government's decision. very much as expected and following on fairly swiftly from us evacuation of their staff and other nations evacuating as well. i think the reality is that those embassy staff could do nothing in khartoum of anywhere else in sudan while this level of violence is going on so it was right, i think, for the british government, to pull them back as quickly as they could. haw government, to pull them back as quickly as they could.— quickly as they could. how much couperation _ quickly as they could. how much cooperation is _ quickly as they could. how much cooperation is there _ quickly as they could. how much cooperation is there because - quickly as they could. how much l cooperation is there because there were some questions as to whether the french evacuation convoy had been fired on by either of the warring factions. they've both denied it, of course. but in terms of foreign countries evacuating their staff, of foreign countries evacuating theirstaff, is of foreign countries evacuating their staff, is there a level of cooperation between then and the foreign government?— foreign government? yeah, absolutely. _ foreign government? yeah, absolutely. there's - foreign government? yeah, - absolutely. there's cooperation

between countries like the us, uk, france, other countries around the world who are essentially trying to get there nationals out. of course, there is a need to coordinate with them and also as far as possible with the government of sudan and of course the government of sudan right now is in a very difficult position. its got divided factions fighting each other which has closed its door like this situation and so the sit potential is very limited —— which has caused the situation, potential for them is very limited because they have little control on what is going on their country. they were reported tax on the french convoy and on the qatari convoy leading sudan with some of their nationals as well so it is a very complex and fraught situation but cooperation takes place at national levels as far as it possibly can. obviously, ou have far as it possibly can. obviously, you have worked _ far as it possibly can. obviously, you have worked for _ far as it possibly can. obviously, you have worked for the - far as it possibly can. obviously, you have worked for the joint - you have worked for the joint intelligence committee. what sort of intelligence committee. what sort of intelligence would have alerted a government to say right, we are now

out. i government to say right, we are now out. ~ , ., ., , ., out. i think it is going to be a combination _ out. i think it is going to be a combination of... _ out. i think it is going to be a combination of... and - out. i think it is going to be a combination of... and cobra, out. i think it is going to be a i combination of... and cobra, of course, his met a few times to coordinate the british evacuation effort, coordinate it between the ministry of defence, the foreign office and other relevant government departments and, critically, the national intelligence services and my role when i was working for cobra was to coordinate the intelligence services and, of course, it's a combination of things. first of all being able to dissipate what is going to happen and it looks like we didn't actually have intelligence 20 is about the situation was going to occur but once it has occurred then intelligence is based on, you know, on the ground information about what's happening in the country and actual events themselves as they take place and i think rather than relying on com the sort of, specific source intelligence to decide to evacuate british citizens it was based more on exactly what is

happening in the country and events that are unfolding as we watched them over the last week and, obviously, an appreciation that this is not going to end either quietly or very soon. is not going to end either quietly or very soon-— or very soon. that was colonel richard kemp, _ or very soon. that was colonel richard kemp, speaking - or very soon. that was colonel richard kemp, speaking to - or very soon. that was coloneli richard kemp, speaking to me earlier. i've been speaking to sir nicolas kay, former uk ambassador to sudan, about his reaction to the story. it's very hard to think of similar cases where an embassy has been closed down so rapidly and quickly. and, you know, it's... it's a moment when diplomats are needed, as well, and i do hope that and i'm sure the foreign office is planning very hard now to see how they can support those british nationals passport holders who are stuck in khartoum. that is absolute the priority, i'm sure, for ministers and the whole foreign office and i'm sure part of

that planning will also be four, eventually, i'm sure age uk presents backin eventually, i'm sure age uk presents back in khartoum and on the ground. i hope that will happen as quickly as possible. —— a uk presence. as caroline hawley says the real thing is to get a ceasefire of at least a humanitarian pause. but every effort, every sin you need to be strained now to make that happen. just make every sign you. if i strained now to make that happen. just make every sign you.— just make every sign you. if i could be so bold, — just make every sign you. if i could be so bold, the _ just make every sign you. if i could be so bold, the centres _ just make every sign you. if i could be so bold, the centres if- just make every sign you. if i could be so bold, the centres if you - just make every sign you. if i could be so bold, the centres if you are l be so bold, the centres if you are not in total agreement of what is happening in terms of the evacuation of dramatic stuff because it does maybe give credence to what british citizens are saying that they feel abandoned. you would hope that they have got something planned of in place to support their citizens. with that normally be the case? == with that normally be the case? » straining every sinew. i'm sure there is a plan many plans. i think

there is a plan many plans. i think the problem is that they are finding at the moment that there are large numbers of people there. khartoum itself is unsafe so movement around khartoum to collect british nationals together in a point for evacuation, a place where they could be or moved is very dangerous so i think thejudgment must be or moved is very dangerous so i think the judgment must be at the moment that the risks of asking british nationals to move around khartoum, to congregate in one place, that risk is higher than the risk of staying sheltering in place. is that cynical as... what would you do if you are still the ambassador in sudan? how would you be handling this? ., ., , ., .,, in sudan? how would you be handling this? ., ., , ., ., this? fortunately, that was at least ten ears this? fortunately, that was at least ten years ago _ this? fortunately, that was at least ten years ago that _ this? fortunately, that was at least ten years ago that i _ this? fortunately, that was at least ten years ago that i had _ this? fortunately, that was at least ten years ago that i had that - ten years ago that i had that pleasure and privilege. i'm sure colleagues in the foreign office are doing exactly what they need to be doing exactly what they need to be doing which is liaising very, very thoroughly with the forces that are

there on the ground, trying to persuade them to respect humanitarian ceasefire. they will be working with allies and partners as we've seen with the americans and others with their plans. that we've seen with the americans and others with their plans.— others with their plans. that was the former _ others with their plans. that was the former uk _ others with their plans. that was the former uk ambassador - others with their plans. that was the former uk ambassador to . others with their plans. that was - the former uk ambassador to sudan. in the uk, the labour party has suspended mp, diane abbott, for suggesting thatjewish people and travellers suffer from "prejudice" rather than �*racism'. ms abbott apologised for her letter to the observer newspaper, stating that it was an initial draft sent by mistake, and acknowledged thatjewish people have suffered the "monstrous effects" of racism. 0ur political correspondent, helen catt, has more on the content of the letter. so, this was a letter that appeared in the observer newspaper this morning and it was in reply to another article that had been in the paper before which related to race. now, diane abbott, she was the first black woman to be elected to the house of commons. she was a decades—long campaigner for racialjustice and she was responding to this article and in it, in her letter,

she said that, that she drew a distinction, or appeared to draw a distinction, between racism and prejudice. i'm just trying to find the words here for you, the exact words. she said thatjewish, irish and traveller people undoubtedly experience prejudice. she said this is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. she then went on to say and it was true that many types of white people with points of difference such as redheads can experience this prejudice, but they are not all their lives subject to racism. now, she has since withdrawn that. she says she wholly withdraws that and has apologised for any anguish caused. she said, as you explained, an error had risen in an initial draft being sent but said that that was no excuse. she said that racism takes many forms and that it was completely undeniable thatjewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as had irish people, travellers and many others. the labour party has,

though, suspended her from the parliamentary labour party pending an investigation. they described the comments as deeply offensive and wrong. there was a period of time when the labour party was deeply divided over the issue of anti—semitism, about prejudice againstjewish people, and when sir keir starmer became the leader he made a promise that he was going to root it out and, in effect, stamp out anti—semitism within the labour party, and he spent a large part, actually, of the last couple of years trying to do that, so in that sense it's not...surprising the labour party has gone down that route and moved quite swiftly to suspend ms abbott while they investigate what is happening and what was behind this letter. that was helen catt. now for the spot. here is hugh ferris.

there have been two very one—sided games in the english premier league today, with one of them involving an extraordinary opening spell. newcastle beat tottenham 6—1 at stjames park. they were 5—nil up afterjust 21 minutes. two goals each forjacob murphy and aleksandar isak did most of the damage for the home side, whose win takes them up to third in the table. harry kane pulled one back in the early part of the second half, but substitute callum wilson completed the rout just after coming on. spurs stay fifth. but they're now six points adrift of the top four. west ham on the other hand are six points clear of the bottom three after providing the other big victory of the day. they won 4—0 at bournemouth to go above them in the table. brighton are hoping to prevent a first ever manchester derby fa cup final... and by doing so could reach their first final in a0 years. with manchester city already through,

manchester united stand in brighton's wayjust three days after their defeat in the europa league to sevilla, a performance of which their manager has been scathing. for me, it was so unacceptable and you can make a mistake, but you have to carry on. if you play a quarterfinal and you give everything, and we did, that is for me in any club, any team for me, unacceptable, so as a manager i can't accept that my team is not getting its best. it can't accept that my team is not getting its best.— getting its best. it will be a lot of our fans _ getting its best. it will be a lot of our fans great _ getting its best. it will be a lot of our fans great stadium, - getting its best. it will be a lot. of our fans great stadium, great atmosphere. we are able to win the game _ atmosphere. we are able to win the game. maybe we can lose but maybe fisher _ game. maybe we can lose but maybe fisher we _ game. maybe we can lose but maybe fisher we can compete. ——maybe we can lose but maybe for sure we can compete. (tx sot) i've been speaking to our correspondent natalie pirks who's at wembley for a match that

brighton will start shortly as favourites, partly because of that defeat for united in seville. knighted, as the body said, well, that morale sapping defeat 3—0 in spain in the quarterfinals of the europa league. we have heard erickson had saying it was simply an acceptable and that in the dressing room so it will be really interesting does he how they react that we have heard eric ten hard. brighton, as you said, are looking to be in the fa cup finalfor the first time since they were beaten by united in the last two matches they played so fans coming here full of confidence for the seagulls and of course whoever wins today will be facing manchester city in the final. serie a champions in waiting napoli will attempt to take their lead back to 17 points later when they playjuventus, a team who have leapt to third in the table after their 15 point deduction for false accounting was reversed. inter�*s win over empoli has taken them fifth. romelu lukaku with two

of their three goals. the leaders in spain are also playing today. barcelona are 8 points clear of real madrid when they began their match against third placed atletico. they're1—0 up at half time. valencia won the early game in la liga. wolfsburg scored twice in five minutes to take command of their women's champions league semi final first leg against arsenal. a mistake by the aresnal defence allowed sveindis jane jonsdottir to score the german side's second. eva payor got the first. arsenal have managed to pulled one back at the end of the first half. barcelona beat chelsea 1—nil in the first leg of the other semi final on saturday it is now 2—2 with just a couple of minutes remaining of injury time. kenya's kelvin kiptum smashed compatriot eliud kipchoge's course record to win the men's london marathon on his debut in the race. kiptum ran the second fastest time in history,

just 16 seconds outside kipchoge's world record, finishing in two hours one minute 25 seconds. britain's mo farah finished ninth in what he says will be his last marathon, while dutch 0lympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion sifan hassan produced a remarkable run to win the women's event on her debut at the distance, having appeared to be injured earlier in the race. and that's all the sport for now. just over an hour ago almost every smartphone in the case and an alarm. long beeps. the british government is testing a new emergency alert system, which will be used to warn people about serious risks that could threaten lives — such as flooding, wildfires, or even a terror attack. our reporter naomi choy smith was in central london's busy oxford street when it happened . ican i can tell you that when that alert

sounded here at oxford circus which is already a busy place to be in central london. everyone paused. there was a loud sound. people look down at their phones and were swiping to see what exactly was going on. there wasn't any mass panic. more curiosity. a little bit of human views, especially among some tourists who are getting the alerts on iphones in that they are not uk residents. we had a range of reactions he would many people saying this is a good idea and they would prefer to be related to survey the events of the people saying it was a little bit anxiety inducing —— they would prefer to be alerted to severe events. a couple of ladies here were having lunch with this alert came through. is a little bit about what your reaction was the dealer some people around you. i personally suffer from anxiety so not remembering the alarms went to go off and having my finger wealth so loudly and so abruptly they put me on edge and, yes, in the middle of the restaurant it was fun with chaos, everyone's alarms going off at different times and it was not a fun moment. to at different times and it was not a fun moment-— fun moment. to find it useful at all? willthis_ fun moment. to find it useful at

all? will this help _ fun moment. to find it useful at all? will this help you _ fun moment. to find it useful at all? will this help you in - fun moment. to find it useful at all? will this help you in the - fun moment. to find it useful at i all? will this help you in the event of an emergency or severe weather alert? i of an emergency or severe weather alert? ~' ,., , of an emergency or severe weather alert? ~ ,., , ._ , alert? i think so but maybe the confusion _ alert? i think so but maybe the confusion came _ alert? i think so but maybe the confusion came from _ alert? i think so but maybe the confusion came from in - alert? i think so but maybe the confusion came from in the - confusion came from in the restaurants specifically didn't all come at the same time so i was went off and yours went up first in a couple of minutes later mansell hadn't gone off and i think that was what caused the disruption so i think it would be useful in future but maybe the need to be a bit more clarity about the timing and tourists and things. i think lots of people eating had no clue what they were for. , . , people eating had no clue what they were for. , ., , ., people eating had no clue what they were for. , . , ., were for. generally lost of good idea but more _ were for. generally lost of good idea but more communication l were for. generally lost of good - idea but more communication around it and you heard about this information such as about that. fin information such as about that. q�*i instagram dollars are mixed information such as about that. (m instagram dollars are mixed messages going around about being told it was for one thing and then saying it was an underlying possibility it could be for something else and then people were being advised to turn their phones off so, again, if you like that created some confusion so maybe some clarity about that moving forward would be useful. the? maybe some clarity about that moving forward would be useful.— forward would be useful. they have the view from _ forward would be useful. they have the view from oxford _ forward would be useful. they have the view from oxford street. - forward would be useful. they have the view from oxford street. a - forward would be useful. they have the view from oxford street. a lot l the view from oxford street. a lot of people who say it was good, a lot of people who say it was good, a lot of people who are a bit confused, people asking for a bit more clarity

were generally a good test all round. naomi, thank you much indeed. thank you. just over an hour ago almost kenya's kelvin kiptum has won the elite men's race in the london marathon. he ran the world's second fastest marathon ever. in the elite women's race — the dutch olympic long—distance champion — sifan hassan — pulled off an impressive performance to win in her debut marathon. our sports reporter — matt graveling — is at the finish line. in the elite women's race — the dutch olympic long—distance champion — sifan hassan — pulled off an impressive performance to win in her debut marathon. our sports reporter — matt graveling — is at the finish line. hundreds of people filing down the nile having completed 26 males and legislators bina dave stories here. the wheelchair race first of forward came forward dominic came through and third london marathon in a row one by marcel hug. the men's race was run by mike won in ken yet ——

one by kelvin kiptum. and women's race run by sifan hassan in the most amazing fashion. she is a women's track star and kept in the final 500 metres he is to take a very first london marathon and first marathon ever. i london marathon and first marathon ever. . ,., london marathon and first marathon ever. . ., , _ ., london marathon and first marathon ever. . ., , ever. i am so happy that i finished! second, i ever. i am so happy that i finished! second. i can't— ever. i am so happy that i finished! second, i can't believe _ ever. i am so happy that i finished! second, i can't believe i— ever. i am so happy that i finished! second, i can't believe i won. - ever. i am so happy that i finished! second, i can't believe i won. like, they both big marathon on the earth. it london, you know? it's my first marathon and i were in london. it feels like a dream.— marathon and i were in london. it feels like a dream. joining me now is a comedian _ feels like a dream. joining me now is a comedian who _ feels like a dream. joining me now is a comedian who has _ feels like a dream. joining me now is a comedian who hasjust - feels like a dream. joining me now is a comedian who hasjust come l is a comedian who has just come across the finish line and was surprised because it was live on bbc news. though, it is light! i have just talked about my nipples chafing on bbc one. thank goodness illness having their lunch right now but how

did you find itjust might thank goodness know is having a lunch. than goodness know is having a lunch. an amazing experience. what a bland common! — amazing experience. what a bland common! amazing expense. i save my playtim— common! amazing expense. i save my playlists until the end which was a good _ playlists until the end which was a good decision. my brother and it is well and _ good decision. my brother and it is well and we bumped into each other happy— well and we bumped into each other happy than the course and that was it huge _ happy than the course and that was it huge moment —— experience. my friend _ it huge moment —— experience. my friend cheered me on twice and said, the robins _ friend cheered me on twice and said, the robins and i missed swindon town fans adore _ the robins and i missed swindon town fans adore semi—great moments for me. fans adore semi—great moments for me sorry— fans adore semi—great moments for me. sorry for my having polishing this delicate moment. though you raising _ this delicate moment. though you raising money for? and raising money for the _ raising money for? and raising money for the ms _ raising money for? and raising money for the ms society which is far more important _ for the ms society which is far more important than my friend rupert from school _ important than my friend rupert from school and _ important than my friend rupert from school and my mother had ms and we've _ school and my mother had ms and we've been— school and my mother had ms and we've been doing fundraising for the ms society, fantastic more than nine ambassador so i have simply got to keep doing — ambassador so i have simply got to keep doing these ones but, to be honest. _ keep doing these ones but, to be honest. i— keep doing these ones but, to be honest, i i'vejust keep doing these ones but, to be honest, i i've just done it in under three _ honest, i i've just done it in under three hours— honest, i i've just done it in under three hours which was basically my life's three hours which was basically my iife's is— three hours which was basically my life's is also — three hours which was basically my life's is also very proud to do it for them — life's is also very proud to do it for them ms society was selfishly my e-o for them ms society was selfishly my ego is— for them ms society was selfishly my ego is also—

for them ms society was selfishly my ego is also a big day. that was matt graveling there as they finish line at the london marathon. you're watching bbc news. hello. there's quite a mixture of weather across the uk at the moment, some areas seeing clearer spells, others with cloud and rain. the remnants of an area of low pressure pulling away eastwards. it's going to get somewhat clearer to start the new week, but it is also going to turn notably chillier. here's the low tracking off towards the continent as we finish up on sunday. behind the low, we're hooking in a northerly breeze and we're going to pull arctic air all the way south across the uk for monday, and it'll stick around for tuesday and wednesday as well. that colder air moving into scotland even through the evening. strong winds, particularly around the northern and eastern coasts and across the higher ground, and wintry showers developing. the rain pulls away from eastern england, but some wetter weather monday daytime, that colder air continuing itsjourney

south across the uk. we have to factor in the winds to the way things will feel as well. particularly strong across northern scotland and down many of our north sea coasts. some rain pushing across out of the irish sea into south wales, the south west of england. some showers getting into the south east by the end of the afternoon. and then showers across scotland will be of snow and potentially even down to lower levels. six degrees in aberdeen as you would read the temperature on the thermometer, but don't forget, we do have to add in the effect of that wind. when we step outside. with wind chill, it's going to feel closer to freezing here.

and overnight monday into tuesday, speaking of freezing, just look what happens to our temperatures. clear skies, winds becoming somewhat lighter, a widespread frost developing and a hard frost in some areas. gardeners with any tender young plants out do keep that in mind. the wind becomes lighter because this finger of high pressure extends south across the uk for tuesday. there will be a lot of fine weather around. we will continue to pick up a few snow showers, i think for northern and eastern scotland on the breeze. high cloud tending to cover our skies, turning the sunshine, hazy as the day plays out, but i think if anything, with the wind a little lighter, the perception may be that it doesn't feel quite as bitingly cold as monday. wednesday, a very similar story to tuesday. end of the week, things start to become more unsettled again, but they will also

start to turn milder.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the uk prime minister confirms that british diplomats and theirfamilies have been evacuated from sudan — in what he calls a �*rapid' and �*complex' evacuation. while the us military has sent 3 chinook helicopters to evacuate its embassy staff from khartoum — a french official says that around 100 people of multiple nationalities have been evacuated after a �*complicated' rescue operation. in the uk, labour opposition, mp diane abbott, has been suspended pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism for the british newspaper, the observer. the dutch siffan hassan and the kenyan kelvin kiptum have

won the race for female and male categories in the london marathon.