MOSCOW, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia has called for all political forces in Sudan to return order to the country after the toppling of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in a military coup, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
"We are closely monitoring the situation, and we hope that there will not be an escalation of the situation that could lead to human sacrifice," Peskov told reporters.
He said that the developments in Sudan were exclusively an internal affair of the Sudanese. But the Kremlin hoped that Russia and Sudan would maintain their relations in any outcome, he added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry urged a settlement to the situation in Sudan through dialogue.
"Moscow expects all Sudanese political forces and power-wielding structures to act with utmost responsibility aiming to stabilize the situation as soon as possible and to prevent its further deterioration," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing.
Earlier on Thursday, international media reported that a military coup took place in Sudan. The military detained Bashir, 75, who ruled the country for three decades, and members of his government.
The Sudanese army declared a state of emergency and nationwide curfew.
Sudanese Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf said on Sudanese state TV that a military council is being formed to run the country for a two-year transitional period.
Since December last year, Sudan has been home to popular protests over deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities.
