Sudan conflict could 'engulf the whole region': UN Chief

Sudan crisis: UN chief António Guterres said that UN will continue its work with its personnel both inside and outside of Sudan.

The UN secretary-general warned Monday that the violence between warring parties in Sudan "could engulf the whole region and beyond."

Sudan clashes: Guterres reiterated his call on all parties to cease hostilities and allow civilians to evacuate. (AFP)

Antonio Guterres told a meeting of the UN Security Council on multilateralism that the situation in Sudan "continues to worsen."

Read here: UN relocated hundreds of staff, civilians from Sudan's Khartoum amid clashes

At least 427 people have been killed and almost 4,000 wounded in ten days of fighting between forces loyal to two rival generals.

"The violence must stop. It risks a catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond," he said.

Guterres added that he was "in constant contact with the parties to the conflict and have called on them to de-escalate tensions and to return to the negotiating table."

"We must all do everything within our power to pull Sudan back from the edge of the abyss," he said, repeating his call for a ceasefire.

"Let me be clear: the United Nations is not leaving Sudan," Guterres said, adding that the world body was "reconfiguring our presence in Sudan to enable us to continue supporting the Sudanese people."

Read here: Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Sudan

"Our commitment is to the Sudanese people, in support of their wishes for a peaceful and secure future. We stand with them at this terrible time," he said.

Britain has requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sudan, which is expected to take place on Tuesday, according to a diplomat.