Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chairs Cobra meeting as Brits trapped by fighting in Sudan

Rishi Sunak has chaired a meeting of the UK’s national emergency committee as British nationals are trapped by fighting in the northeat African country of Sudan.

The UK Government said it is “doing everything possible” to support Brits stuck there.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed the Prime Minister held the Cobra meeting on Saturday morning about the situation, with defence secretary Ben Wallace and Africa minister Andrew Mitchell in attendance.

A UK Government spokesman: “We recognise that the situation is extremely concerning for British nationals trapped by the fighting in Sudan.

“We are doing everything possible to support British nationals and diplomatic staff in Khartoum, and the Ministry of Defence is working with the Foreign Office to prepare for a number of contingencies.”

It comes after the Sudanese army said it is coordinating efforts to evacuate American, British, Chinese and French citizens and diplomats from Sudan on military aircraft, as the bloody fighting entered its second week.

The military said that its chief, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, had spoken to leaders of several countries who have requested safe evacuations of their citizens and diplomats.