we could establish yesterday that truce. but the escalation, especially with this morning. up till now, we are trying to establish our contacts for this day because today people really run out of food and a very day because today people really run out of food. unless there is a immediate humanitarian truce for the people to get their needs, i think the people will be compelled to do some looting. and this is very serious. and it will be sponsored and started by these warring parties. live now to james copnall, presenter of newsday on bbc world service radio and a former bbc sudan correspondent. what have you been hearing? i know you have been in close contact with friends, colleagues, people you know notjust in khartoum but other places. the picture we are hearing is it s a desperately worrying and frightening time for
governs the country. live now to james copnall, bbc newsday presenter and author of the poisonous thorn in our hearts sudan and south sudan s bitter and incomplete divorce. we have been speaking to people throughout the day regarding what is going on in sudan, and many have said the situation and escalation of tension could have been predicted, do you agree? tension could have been predicted, do you agree? completely. i think it was a terrifying do you agree? completely. i think it was a terrifying prospect do you agree? completely. i think it was a terrifying prospect for - do you agree? completely. i think it was a terrifying prospect for so - was a terrifying prospect for so many, but also one that was inevitable, given the obvious tensions between the military and the rapid support forces. it goes back to a long history in sudan, the dictator, of keeping the various military components that supported him divided, he did not want anyone strong enough to oust him and it worked f