UPDATE - UK begins evacuation of British citizens from Sudan

UPDATES WITH FIRST FLIGHT; REVISES DECK

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK has begun evacuating stranded British nationals from Sudan, where fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left hundreds of people dead.

As part of the evacuation effort, the first UK flight of British nationals has left Sudan and is en route to Akrotiri base, Cyprus island.

UK Defense Ministry had earlier said C130 aircraft took off from Royal Air Force (RAF) from the island for Sudan.

The British government said priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions.

"The safety of all British nationals in Sudan continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice," it added in a statement.

Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell said on Monday that some 4,000 UK citizens live in Sudan while 2,000 of them have already requested help.

On Sunday, the government announced that the armed forces have completed the evacuation of British diplomats and their families from Sudan.

The UK government was being criticized for leaving British citizens in Sudan while only evacuating diplomatic staff and families.

At least 459 people have been killed and over 4,072 others injured since April 15, when a conflict broke out in the capital Khartoum and other cities between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.