Egyptian, Mauritanian presidents urge immediate cease-fire in Sudan

CAIRO, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian president and his Mauritanian counterpart called on Sudan's warring parties to reach an immediate cease-fire to end the country's deadly clashes, Egypt's official news agency MENA reported on Sunday.

During their meeting in Cairo, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and visiting Mohamed Ould Ghazouani urged all Sudanese parties to put the nation's and its people's interests first, and leverage their wisdom to preserve them, the report said.

They also called for intensifying efforts to deliver relief aid to the Sudanese people and alleviate their suffering, it added.

During the meeting, the two heads of state also discussed other regional issues, including the impact of stalled negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on water security in Africa.

Sudan has witnessed deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15.

According to the Sudanese Doctors Union's update, civilian deaths since the beginning of the clashes have risen to 863, and injuries to 3,531.

At least 1.6 million people have been displaced, fleeing to safer locations inside and outside Sudan, revealed the United Nations figures.