live from london, this is bbc news. a fragile ceasefire in sudan has onlyjust holding as the repatriation of thousands of foreign citizens continues. on their first contact since the invasion started, president zelensky has said he had a long and meaningful conversation with the chinese leader xi jinping. in the uk government plans to block microsoft's six in a billion—dollar plan to buy activision blizzard. we begin in sudan where thousands of sudanese and foreign nationals are

trying to get out of the country during a tenuous 72 hour ceasefire that threatens to break. among them are british people being told to go to this air base outside the capital where they are being flown to safety in cyprus then on to the uk where we are expecting very soon the first plane to arrive. the uk says more than 300 people have been evacuated from sudan with more flights expected in the coming hours. full nearly 2000 people from other countries have taken another route out by crossing the red sea on a ship organised by saudi arabia. tens of thousands of sudanese continue to try to reach neighbouring chad, egypt and south sudan. as thousands leave, residents in khartoum tell us about their fears that the world is abandoning them as supplies of food, water and medicine are running low. officials wanted for war crimes have been released from prison although the army says they have been moved to a military hospital. our

correspondent is at the airport in cyprus. this is how it feels to have escaped from sudan. i met this familyjust before they left cyprus and flew back to the uk. but other loved ones who are not british citizens didn't make it out. i had to leave my _ citizens didn't make it out. i had to leave my parents, _ citizens didn't make it out. i had to leave my parents, my - citizens didn't make it out. i i—f. to leave my parents, my siblings, the whole family there. i'm very worried about them. the the whole family there. i'm very worried about them.— the whole family there. i'm very worried about them. the family from london within _ worried about them. the family from london within the _ worried about them. the family from london within the capital— worried about them. the family from london within the capital khartoum l london within the capital khartoum on holiday but became trapped by the fighting. eventually they reached safety. fighting. eventually they reached safe . . ., ., ., safety. once we got to the airport, we met the — safety. once we got to the airport, we met the british _ safety. once we got to the airport, we met the british soldiers - safety. once we got to the airport, we met the british soldiers who . safety. once we got to the airport, i we met the british soldiers who were very friendly and they helped us a

lot to get here now.— lot to get here now. other countries. _ lot to get here now. other countries, france - lot to get here now. other countries, france and - lot to get here now. other - countries, france and germany, got there people out before the british. do you think the british helped you when you needed them or were they too slow? , , ., ., too slow? they were slower than the others but still, _ too slow? they were slower than the others but still, they _ too slow? they were slower than the others but still, they saved - too slow? they were slower than the others but still, they saved us. - others but still, they saved us. that's what matters.— that's what matters. these uk citizens were _ that's what matters. these uk citizens were the _ that's what matters. these uk citizens were the first - that's what matters. these uk citizens were the first to - that's what matters. these uk citizens were the first to be - citizens were the first to be evacuated from sudan by the british military, leaving behind a chaotic country. irate military, leaving behind a chaotic count . ~ ., military, leaving behind a chaotic count .~ ., military, leaving behind a chaotic count . ~ ., ., , ., military, leaving behind a chaotic count .~ ., , military, leaving behind a chaotic count. ., country. we had lots of gunshots. we were only a — country. we had lots of gunshots. we were only a little _ country. we had lots of gunshots. we were only a little safe. _ country. we had lots of gunshots. we were only a little safe. we _ country. we had lots of gunshots. we were only a little safe. we also - were only a little safe. we also heard _ were only a little safe. we also heard explosions. we are safe now because _ heard explosions. we are safe now because there is no war here at all. was the _ because there is no war here at all. was the first —— the first evacuation flight to the uk is about to depart and these families' ordeal is over but many leave behind loved

ones in sudan and simply don't know what will happen to them. because this is what they have fled, the destruction wrought on the capital city after a few between sudanese generals. people in the midst of a war zone, albeit there is now a fragile ceasefire. the uk says it is more or less holding but not entirely and there is still british passport holder struggling to leave. in london, amir awaits news of his children who are stuck in sudan with their mother. it children who are stuck in sudan with their mother-— their mother. if they didn't manage to net out their mother. if they didn't manage to get out now. _ their mother. if they didn't manage to get out now, tomorrow - their mother. if they didn't manage to get out now, tomorrow or- their mother. if they didn't manage to get out now, tomorrow or after i to get out now, tomorrow or after tomorrow, to be honest, i don't know because i'm really worried about them and i can't sleep. back because i'm really worried about them and i can't sleep.— them and i can't sleep. back in c rus, them and i can't sleep. back in cyprus. more _ them and i can't sleep. back in cyprus, more rescue _ them and i can't sleep. back in cyprus, more rescue flights - them and i can't sleep. back in | cyprus, more rescue flights are coming in and others going out. this

is an operation which is gaining pace but farfrom ending is an operation which is gaining pace but far from ending with is an operation which is gaining pace but farfrom ending with many more britons still far from safety. four flights have left sudan so far. the british government are saying a total of eight planes will depart sudan by the end of the day. another correspondent is lewis vaughanjones who had more details from cyprus. interesting update on the numbers, there has been a bit of a dispute about the numbers, about who is coming in and who is leaving. this airport is a hub for the uk operation, so they are coming in from khartoum, people are being processed and then heading to the uk on normal planes. on those numbers,

up on normal planes. on those numbers, up until the arrival of that last one, we were told 230, 240 people had arrived, that is now up to 301 and we know from the british high commissioner here that the number who left in the first flight from here back to the uk is 170 so some difference in those numbers. we don't exactly know what that discrepancy is about. but interestingly, the flight which took off a few hours ago should be landing in the uk anytime now heading into stansted airport. as for the people board that flight, we've got our first chance to hear from them after the journey that they have made. just before getting on the flight when they were waiting at the gate like everyone on an ordinary flight, on an ordinary journey, they told us about their extraordinary journey.

journey, they told us about their extraordinaryjourney. it journey, they told us about their extraordinary journey.— extraordinary “ourney. it was something_ extraordinary journey. it was something else. _ extraordinary journey. it was something else. i— extraordinary journey. it was something else. i can't - extraordinary journey. it was something else. i can't even| something else. i can't even describe. it was bad, it was very bad. i don't even want to remember it. i went there for three weeks' holiday with my two kids. they were very excited to go back to their home and see our family but very excited to go back to their home and see ourfamily but in very excited to go back to their home and see our family but in two weeks, they were asking me to go back to london. i’zre weeks, they were asking me to go back to london.— back to london. i've been interviewing _ back to london. i've been interviewing people - back to london. i've beenj interviewing people about back to london. i've been - interviewing people about their experiences trying to leave khartoum in particular and they have really been through a horrific ordeal and you just heard that from that woman they are just explaining what she's been through as well. a lot of

people are saying part of the difficulty was just getting from their home to the airfield because it's so dangerous. there is gunfire, the roads are unsafe. has there been some criticism of the foreign office and the british government for not being able to help people with that particular part of the journey. yeah, to be clear, some countries started evacuation as early as sunday, a good couple of days before the uk. germany, for example, is in control of that airbase just north of khartoum that people had to try to get to. they have taken out hundreds of people and are effectively kind of winding down operations, the british using that same base are now taking over, they have 120 personnel in place ready for that transition but since that —— just that simple timeline tells you that other countries are doing

it ahead of the uk and there will be some questions asked about that timing. this all depends now on how many more people are willing to take that risk, take thatjourney unescorted, the french taking a different decision and going to help people around khartoum get to that airbase, with people under a ceasefire right now, but how many more will risk thatjourney ceasefire right now, but how many more will risk that journey and ceasefire right now, but how many more will risk thatjourney and what happens to that peace, we're not sure. the latest people risking the journey have made it here and if we move the camera around they are heading into the airport. it's a normal civilian airport, people going about their travels on their holidays as well so they will be processed in there. we have a team inside the airport and they will be trying their best to speak to people coming off that flight before they get on another flight from here back to the uk. we will learn a little

more about the details of that dangerous journey. more about the details of that dangerousjourney. $1150 more about the details of that dangerous journey. dangerous “ourney. also speaking there at dangerous journey. also speaking there at the _ dangerous journey. also speaking there at the larnaca _ dangerous journey. also speaking there at the larnaca airport - dangerous journey. also speaking there at the larnaca airport was l dangerous journey. also speaking l there at the larnaca airport was the british high commissioner to cyprus who has been addressing the criticism that british nationals in khartoum have been told by the uk government to make their own way to the airport. the government to make their own way to the airort. , . ., ., the airport. the situation on the round in the airport. the situation on the ground in khartoum _ the airport. the situation on the ground in khartoum which - the airport. the situation on the ground in khartoum which i - the airport. the situation on the | ground in khartoum which i know the airport. the situation on the - ground in khartoum which i know very well, i used to be the british ambassador in khartoum, is extremely volatile. we simply don't have the means to escort people to the airport. what we told them up until now is to keep the shelter in place because it hasn't been safe. this latest ceasefire does seem to be holding to some extent which is why we do encourage people to make their way, on their own steam, to the airport if they can to get onto the planes we've provided. we really can't offer more than that, particularly looking at the safety of our own people on the ground as well. ., ,

of our own people on the ground as well. . , . ., well. the military generalwho led france's rescue _ well. the military generalwho led france's rescue operation - well. the military generalwho led france's rescue operation has - well. the military general who ledj france's rescue operation has told the bbc that france is ready to help other countries trying to extract citizens caught up in the conflict. french forces carried out ground missions in khartoum to rescue citizens and other europeans, bringing them to an airstrip outside the capital. they were then flown to djibouti in the horn of africa. we spoke to major general. this djibouti in the horn of africa. we spoke to major general. spoke to ma'or general. this was a com - lex spoke to major general. this was a complex operation _ spoke to major general. this was a complex operation because - spoke to major general. this was a complex operation because of - spoke to major general. this was a complex operation because of the l spoke to major general. this was a i complex operation because of the war in sudan and we had to extract french citizens and other nations�* citizens. to do so, we assign special planes from france to build up special planes from france to build up a force then we went into sudan in a small airport near khartoum then we launched a ground mission to pick up our citizens and european and other nations�* citizens, then

back to this little airport and then back to this little airport and then back by plane to djibouti. irate back by plane to djibouti. we understand some french soldiers were injured during the mission. during the mission. _ injured during the mission. during the mission, we _ injured during the mission. during the mission, we had _ injured during the mission. during the mission, we had to _ injured during the mission. during the mission, we had to go - injured during the mission. during the mission, we had to go on - injured during the mission. during the mission, we had to go on to i injured during the mission. during i the mission, we had to go on to the ground to pick up citizens and a french military was injured. we managed to make it back to the airfield and to surgery because we sent a little surgeon team on the ground in sudan so as to save him. some governments, the uk and united states, say they cannot carry out missions into the city. they are asking your citizens to get to certain places to be evacuated. what do you think about that? first certain places to be evacuated. what do you think about that?— do you think about that? first of all, we do you think about that? first of all. we have _ do you think about that? first of all, we have a _ do you think about that? first of all, we have a phrase _ do you think about that? first of all, we have a phrase in - do you think about that? first of all, we have a phrase in france, | do you think about that? first of i all, we have a phrase in france, we carry on this mission, we open the gate and we managed to save about

500 people from about 80 nations. 28 uk citizens and 46 us citizens are among those so we are proud to help them. it's a complex mission but the most important thing was to open the gate. when it was open, it was possible to let other countries come and other assets to do their own business. �* , ,., �* , business. the british government's advice today _ business. the british government's advice today is _ business. the british government's advice today is for _ business. the british government's advice today is for people - business. the british government's advice today is for people to - business. the british government's advice today is for people to make | advice today is for people to make their own way to the airfield. what do you think about that? than? their own way to the airfield. what do you think about that? any nation does the best _ do you think about that? any nation does the best option _ do you think about that? any nation does the best option it _ do you think about that? any nation does the best option it has. - do you think about that? any nation does the best option it has. it - do you think about that? any nation does the best option it has. it is - does the best option it has. it is not what france decided, france decided to go into the city to secure the convoy, to go through the different faction, to go to the airfield. , ., , ., airfield. the focus right now is on rescue missions _ airfield. the focus right now is on rescue missions from _ airfield. the focus right now is on rescue missions from sudan. - airfield. the focus right now is on | rescue missions from sudan. what airfield. the focus right now is on - rescue missions from sudan. what do you expect to happen in the next few days? you expect to happen in the next few

da s? ., . . you expect to happen in the next few da 5? ., . . ., you expect to happen in the next few das? ., .. ., . ., days? for france, our nationals out ofthe days? for france, our nationals out of the country- _ days? for france, our nationals out of the country. we _ days? for france, our nationals out of the country. we are _ days? for france, our nationals out of the country. we are still - days? for france, our nationals out of the country. we are still here - of the country. we are still here and ready to help other countries because they have —— we have a mission to do so, we can give them our experience because now we know how to do it in the country so we can corroborate with the nations that need our help to support them through the mission. so that need our help to support them through the mission.— through the mission. so you are willin: to through the mission. so you are willing to provide _ through the mission. so you are willing to provide support - through the mission. so you are willing to provide support to - through the mission. so you are willing to provide support to the through the mission. so you are . willing to provide support to the uk or the united states, should they ask french troops? fir or the united states, should they ask french troops?— or the united states, should they ask french troops? or any country that asks us- _ that asks us. you might be familiar with this live picture we have of central khartoum, these pictures are coming to us now, really difficult to get accurate information about what's happening information about what's happening in the city at the moment but we understand there is a fragile ceasefire that is still holding as thousands of people are trying to leave the city. a formerjournalist founded a school in sudan in 2012

with 850 pupils ranging from very young teenagers and spoke to us about the confusion that there amongst everyone there but british citizens as well as they desperately try to leave. it’s citizens as well as they desperately try to leave-— try to leave. it's been horrific for everybody _ try to leave. it's been horrific for everybody and — try to leave. it's been horrific for everybody and quite _ try to leave. it's been horrific for everybody and quite dramatic. . everybody and quite dramatic. everybody outside and inside the country is working together to try to get everybody out, whether they are sudanese or foreigners. to get everybody out, whether they are sudanese orforeigners. i have to get everybody out, whether they are sudanese or foreigners. i have a lot of foreign friends and brits who tries to get out on the flights yesterday. they did successfully in the end but it wasn't without problems. obviously you talked about the roots to the military airfield and as the ambassador said, it's very difficult on the ground. the europeans had a different experience, they are friends who have eu passports. they evacuated a lot of citizens with their diplomats so they had an armoured escort from

embassies to the airfield so they got out a few days before the brits. at that point, there was no information that they would be any evacuation of british people so they tries to make their own way out via the land border to egypt which is a three journey and a big the land border to egypt which is a threejourney and a big unknown the land border to egypt which is a three journey and a big unknown as to what you meet along the way —— a three dayjourney, whether you will be stopped and robbed. i have friends whose sudanese husbands took them to the airfield yesterday. one poor lady, her car broke down on the way and she was in a panic. she managed to get on a bus to get to the airport. she didn't know, she thought maybe they would leave without her, how many flights were going and when they were going, she has four children with her. she eventually got on a bus, got cotton

gunfire as there were clashes —— she got caught in gunfire. she is now safely on a flight or has been on a flight and is in cyprus now. i had other friends who once they were dropped off, there are sudanese husbands were not allowed to get on the flight with them —— their sudanese husbands. three of them tried to get back and were held up at a checkpoint and had guns pointed at a checkpoint and had guns pointed at their heads, shot above their heads and threatened. on their way to the airfield, one of the cars was stopped. the son of one of the sudanese, they tried to kidnap his son, so it's a very terrifying journey to get to the airfield. i completely understand there is no

longer any diplomatic stuff on the ground to be able to help facilitate british nationals and americans to get there. i'vejust british nationals and americans to get there. i've just had a desperate message from americans and british who are stuck and cannot find cars because there is no petrol in khartoum, there is no cars for hire, there's been no electricity or water since this started in many areas, especially in khartoum north, they still don't have water. it's been 11 days. you can imagine how difficult the situation is for people. the banking system has collapsed so people cannot get money to be able to travel. everybody is trying, the sudanese do not have credit cards or access to online banking, is very much a cash —based society because it was under sanctions for so long so getting money is very difficult when the banking system is just not working. nothing is working. irate when the banking system isjust not working. nothing is working. we will kee ou

working. nothing is working. we will keep you across _ working. nothing is working. we will keep you across the _ working. nothing is working. we will keep you across the developments l keep you across the developments from sudan but let's update you on other stories. ukraine's president zelensky says he had a long and meaningful call with chinese president xijinping, the meaningful call with chinese president xi jinping, the first between the two since russia's invasion. china says it maintains a neutral stance and president xi jinping has so far refused to condemn moscow's invasion. in february, beijing offered a 12 point paper calling for a political settlement to the crisis. last month, president zelensky said he was willing to cooperate with beijing, a country that has refused to condemn moscow. it has even strengthened economic ties with russia. he even invited xijinping to kyiv last month after his meeting with vladimir putin in moscow but that meeting never happened. here we are now with what we are told is a long and meaningful phone call between both leaders. the detail is

a little light but it's clear ukraine is hoping to strengthen its ties with china, partly to undermine moscow's support for its invasion to try to send a political message but there's also a chance that xi jinping... let's talk about what's happening in moscow today. alexei navalny telling a court today he is now being investigated on terrorism charges. he said he was told by his investigators that he would be tried by a military court. he has been accused of being behind the bombing of a cafe in st petersburg in early april which killed a pro—war

vlogger. 11 people have now been put on i wanted list links to alexei navalny the same —— who is serving a lengthy prison sentence. ever since alexei navalny was sent to prison in 2021, for alleged parole violations, he has faced more and more charges, more and more criminal cases and more and more prison time. he was then given another nine years, convicted of fraud, important to say that his supporters insist that all the charges past and present against him are politically motivated. he is vladimir putin's most prominent critic. last autumn, alexei navalny said he was facing another set of

new charges of promoting extremism and promoting terrorism, and predicted that that could add 30 more years to his time behind bars. today, what happened, there was a technical hearing about this new case to the stade how many days mr navalny will be given to study the case against him. we are talking about more than 196 volumes. he was given until may the 5th to study the case. at this technical hearing, he said that one of the investigators had told him that part of this case had told him that part of this case had been taken out and a new case made around it and he will also be accused of terrorism so there could be two more court cases against mr navalny and he predicted today that the terrorism charges which could see him being given life imprisonment. let's return to the story of tens of

thousands of sudanese and foreign nationals all trying to get out of sudan, out of khartoum, particularly, making their way to neighbouring countries but also some of them getting on flights and making their way to other parts of the world as well. it's been a terrifying time for many of them, even the journey from home to the airport incredibly stressful. let's take your life to sta nsted airport incredibly stressful. let's take your life to stansted airport. we are expecting their first evacuation plane with british nationals to arrive. a corresponding as therefore as —— is there for us. do we know the ata of the flight? irate do we know the ata of the flight? we are do we know the ata of the flight? - are expecting it in three minutes from now, having come from cyprus as we've been hearing. we don't quite know how many people are on board but we are expecting it to at

stansted airport and go to a private terminal. the people on the plane will be able to come through arrivals and we've seen an area where relatives who will be waiting for them have been asked to wait. and they will be transported to whenever they want to go after that. we don't know how many people are on this plane but it's been a difficult journey, many of them have had to go through a dangerous journey to get to the airport, which the british government have been criticised for. rishi sunak was praising the forces carrying out the evacuations today but there have been criticisms that the government has been slow to get people out and also not communicated very well. crucially, not really help them in thatjourney getting to the airport. some being turned away for not having the right paperwork. some of them will have left family

back home so we are expecting a great sense of exhaustion from them, tiredness, but also probably relief. is it thought the majority of people on board are british nationals or has the british government helped facilitate the travel plans of some of their allies and their citizens? we've heard the majority of british nationals —— the majority are british nationals but there are also citizens of other countries on board. we don't have specific numbers but we've heard from the foreign office that 301 people have been evacuated from sudan. there will be a total of eight flights from their today and i'm just hearing that the plane has landed. unfortunately we can't quite see it here but we have teams inside who will be trying to track the people coming off the plane. we are hearing

the news that the plane coming from cyprus with british nationals has arrived in the airport. irate cyprus with british nationals has arrived in the airport.— arrived in the airport. we are lookin: arrived in the airport. we are looking at — arrived in the airport. we are looking at pictures _ arrived in the airport. we are looking at pictures of - arrived in the airport. we are looking at pictures of the - arrived in the airport. we are l looking at pictures of the plane landing at stansted. everyone on board will be hugely relieved to be back home if they are british to see theirfamily and friends back home if they are british to see their family and friends who will be waiting for them. what sort of stories have you heard? i know you have been speaking to colleagues and contacts as well but what sort of stories have you heard from sudan about the experiences that these people have been having? you about the experiences that these people have been having? you can put ourself in people have been having? you can put yourself in their— people have been having? you can put yourself in their shoes _ people have been having? you can put yourself in their shoes and _ people have been having? you can put yourself in their shoes and imagine - yourself in their shoes and imagine what it is like to have to upend your entire life over the course of a week, with no idea how to get to an area of safety. many of them didn't know how to plan their

journeys to the airport to get onto these evacuation flights, many of them were shot at on the way, they've had to leave so much behind. even when they go to the airport, some of them had to leave members of theirfamily behind because some of them had to leave members of their family behind because they didn't have the right paperwork are british passports so it's a harrowing journey and for many of them, thejourney harrowing journey and for many of them, the journey won't end here because they will be worried about people they have left behind about family who haven't been able to come over so there will still be a lot of anxiety even though there will be relief as well. the situation in sudan is difficult. many people are going without electricity, supplies are running low, it's difficult to get food, the streets are not entirely safe and everyone is wondering, what will happen after this 72 hour ceasefire expires? that's the big question now. even as these evacuations continue, the situation in sudan remains precarious. it

situation in sudan remains precarious-— situation in sudan remains precarious. situation in sudan remains recarious. ., , . . precarious. it does indeed. we are watchin: precarious. it does indeed. we are watching the _ precarious. it does indeed. we are watching the first _ precarious. it does indeed. we are watching the first flight _ precarious. it does indeed. we are watching the first flight carrying i watching the first flight carrying british people landing in this private airfield in stansted. for flights carrying 301 people have departed khartoum, part of a big british operation to evacuate people from sudan and downing street are saying four further flights will depart throughout wednesday. 301 people have been evacuated so far. the foreign office are saying that everything is running smoothly out of khartoum as well. there is no issue with capacity and people are being processed smoothly. by the end of today, downing street are saying we should have eight flights in total and that the flights taking off where full or close to full, good numbers were coming into the strip in a smooth and orderly flow. it's good to hear that that airstrip outside of khartoum, is not the main airport, but people have had quite a

difficultjourney airport, but people have had quite a difficult journey to get there but once they are there, things are happening smoothly. how much criticism has there been of the british government and the foreign office about the speed at which this has happened and it has taken this many days to get british citizens out? ., , . , ., , out? one of the things that people are pointing _ out? one of the things that people are pointing out — out? one of the things that people are pointing out is _ out? one of the things that people are pointing out is the _ out? one of the things that people are pointing out is the stark- are pointing out is the stark difference between what's happened with british nationals in germany for instance. germany was celebrating the completion of their evacuation exercise when britain was just starting there is so there has been criticism of the fact that people feel that many people in sudan were left to their own devices and in fact the german foreign minister made a point of saying that unlike other nations, germany decided not to leave their citizens and other people, referring to that

treacherous journey to the airport. other nations organise convoys. these are some of the points that are being used as criticism against the government and how they have organised this process. the government has pointed out that they have many more nationals to take out of sudan. it's thought there are about 4000 british nationals. the us has also come under criticism, they have about 16,000 nationals in sudan and they have been similarly criticised for being slow to evacuate those citizens. it's that stark contrast between countries like france and germany which have acted very quickly. we've also seen saudi arabia ferry around 1687 people tojeddah today and it's those contrasts that are making people point out the fact that they feel the british government has not acted swiftly enough.

and the situation in khartoum, we talk