At least 24 people have been killed and about 100 wounded in fierce battles that broke out on Tuesday across Omdurman, the western part of Sudan's wider capital.
The war in the African country is approaching its third month with no end in sight. The casualties were reported by the Al Naw hospital in Omdurman.
The army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, is reportedly trying to cut supply routes used by its paramilitary rivals, the Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen Mohamed Dagalo.
Violence between the two sides erupted in mid-April as the generals vied for control following a military coup that overturned an attempted power-sharing agreement with civilian-led political parties.
The war has now reignited simmering ethnic conflict across the country, including in Darfur, the scene of mass killings by government-linked militias about 20 years ago.
On Tuesday, the army launched air strikes and heavy artillery salvos, and there were ground battles in several parts of Omdurman, witnesses said.
The RSF quickly took control of large parts of the capital and has brought in extra fighters from Darfur and Kordofan as the conflict has deepened.
It transferred the reinforcements across bridges from Omdurman to Bahri and Khartoum, the other two cities that make up the wider capital across the confluence of the River Nile.
Residents said Tuesday's clashes in Omdurman were the heaviest in weeks.
As the army tried to gain ground, it was also fending off an RSF attack against a police base, they said.
“There has been very heavy bombardment for hours – air strikes, artillery and bullets. It is the first time for us that there have been continuous strikes at this level from every direction,” said Manahel Abbas, 33, a resident of Omdurman's Al Thawra district.
Saudi Arabia and the US brokered several ceasefire deals during talks in Jeddah. The talks were suspended last month after both sides breached the truces.
In a move that could escalate conflict in western Sudan, tribal leaders in South Darfur declared their allegiance to the RSF on Monday.
The RSF originated in Arab militias that helped to crush a rebellion in Darfur after 2003, before developing into a national and officially recognised force.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
