A former Sudanese politician wanted for alleged crimes against humanity has said that he and other former officials are no longer in jail - following reports of a break-out.
Ahmed Haroun was among those being held in Kober prison in the capital Khartoum who are facing charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
A ceasefire between fighting military factions largely appears to be holding.
But there are doubts about both sides' commitment to a lasting peace.
The conflict - which began on 15 April - arose from a bitter power struggle between the leaders of Sudan's regular army and a rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Reports emerged earlier this week of a prison break at Kober - where Ahmed Haroun was serving a sentence alongside Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's former president.
On Tuesday, Haroun confirmed in a statement aired on Sudan's Tayba TV that he and other Bashir loyalists who served under him had left the jail - but said he would be ready to appear before the judiciary whenever it was functioning.
In an audio message circulating on social media, Haroun claimed the group had been aided in their escape by prison guards and the armed forces.
"We made a decision to protect ourselves due to lack of security, water, food and treatment, as well as the death of many prisoners in Kober," Haroun told al-Sudani, a daily newspaper with ties to Bashir.
Bashir himself - who is 79 - is currently at a military hospital in police custody, and was moved there before hostilities broke out, according to the Sudanese army.
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