The military statement also indicates that the troops of the so-called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fleeing, abandoning dozens of vehicles and leaving behind hundreds of dead.

The paramilitary troops have been besieging the strategic city for weeks, where the most violent fighting of the war between the contenders has taken place.

For their part, the RSF say they have caused a hundred casualties to the army in an attack on a convoy of 60 vehicles in the town of Al Faw in the east of the country.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese army and the RSF said they were willing to engage in peace talks, responding to a call from the U.S. government.

ef/jav/jha/fvt