The United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday passed a motion condemning the escalating violence committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan's Al Obeid and setting up an urgent inquiry into abuses there.

Britain, which led the session, has previously warned of large-scale atrocities as the RSF increased its forces around one of Sudan's largest cities.

There are fears that the atrocities committed in Al Obeid could be similar to those committed in Al Fasher in North Darfur last year.

"These horrors must not be repeated," Britain’s Human Rights Ambassador Eleanor Sanders told the UN Human Rights Council.