Biden demands an end to violence in Sudan and threatens BOTH warring factions ... trends now

President Joe Biden moved closer on Thursday to issuing sanctions on Sudan's warring generals, saying they had 'betrayed' the Sudanese people and their demand for democracy.

Regional experts have criticized Washington's role for failing to impose penalties after a 2021 coup, and accused the Biden administration of adding fuel to the fire with a Western-backed plan to reorganize the country's armed forces.

On Thursday, Biden signed an executive order paving the way for future sanctions after almost three weeks of bitter fighting.

'The violence taking place in Sudan is a tragedy — and it is a betrayal of the Sudanese people's clear demand for civilian government and a transition to democracy,' he said. 

'I join the peace-loving people of Sudan and leaders around the world in calling for a durable ceasefire between the belligerent parties.'

It came as South Sudan's foreign ministry announced a week-long ceasefire. But at least five other truces have come and gone without easing a growing humanitarian emergency. 

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House that the executive order was not so much a warning as an authorization for the Treasury to consider whether sanctions would be appropriate.

'If these two military factions, the leaders of them, really desire for peace and security, if they really have the Sudanese people at their heart, then they should stop fighting,' Kirby said. 

'They should put the arms down, abide by the ceasefire as they've committed to, and start to get back to the table so we can see a transition to civilian authority.'

Shelling rocked the capital Khartoum again on Thursday, disrupting efforts to deliver much

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