Washington, 6 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Three weeks after fighting broke out between rival military forces in Sudan, representatives of the two sides are sending envoys to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at solidifying a shaky ceasefire.

The US and Saudi governments confirmed that the first direct talks between representatives of the warring parties would get under way in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on Saturday.

Washington and Riyadh have been at the forefront of mediation efforts in Sudan.

US President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, is also expected in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States urge both parties to take in consideration the interests of the Sudanese nation and its people and actively engage in the talks toward a ceasefire and end to the conflict," the statement said.

Sudan's de facto president Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is wrestling for power with the army's support against his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The two generals previously seized control in Sudan through joint military coups. However, a rift over power sharing flared into open fighting on April 15 in the country of 46 million inhabitants.

More than 500 people have been killed, according to official figures from Sudan's Health Ministry, but observers say the true number is likely considerably higher.

Truces have been repeatedly declared in the north African country over the past three weeks but none have taken hold, with many broken within hours.

A ceasefire that came into force on Thursday had already collapsed by Friday, with airstrikes and heavy shelling reported near the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum.